About Nathalie

Nathalie Jean-Baptiste is a Haitian artist, storyteller, and creative host whose work begins with a simple question:

“What do we carry with us, and what do we choose to preserve?”

Born and raised in Haiti, Nathalie grew up surrounded by the music, food, traditions, stories, and cultural expectations that would later become the foundation of her creative practice. She has always been curious about people, their culture, the stories hidden inside everyday things. That curiosity continues to shape how she brings people together.

She came to New York City to study Biology with plans to become a physician. During a visit home to Haiti in 2010, she experienced the earthquake and its aftermath. The experience shifted her perspective on life and ultimately gave her the courage to reconsider the path she had imagined for herself. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Biology, but hosted her very first sold out art exhibit, after minoring in Studio Art and allowing herself to take seriously her creative gift that had always been there.

Her curiosity soon expanded beyond painting and into food. After her mother gave her a book of Haitian recipes, Nathalie began exploring the dishes and stories connected to her upbringing. What started as a cooking blog grew into intimate dinner experiences where food became a vehicle for storytelling, culture, conversation about identity, the future and connection.

Bringing people together has become one of Nathalie’s greatest creative instincts. Whether around a dinner table, through a painting, or in the digital spaces she creates, she is interested in creating experiences that make people feel something, remember something, or see something familiar differently.

Her Haitian identity sits at the center of that work.

Nathalie carries vivid memories of growing up in Haiti and is fascinated by the parts of culture that live quietly in our everyday lives—the songs we know by heart, the foods we grew up eating, the things our families taught us, and even the expectations placed upon us.

As a Haitian woman, Nathalie is particularly interested in the tension between strength and vulnerability. She grew up understanding that women were expected to endure, to be pillars of their families, and often to remain quiet about what they carried. Her paintings give those unspoken experiences another language.

Influenced by artists including Frida Kahlo and Haitian artist Rigaud Benoit, Nathalie uses her work to tell her own story rather than someone else’s.
Painting allows her to express experiences she sometimes cannot find words for.

It is also a form of archiving.

Through her paintings, storytelling, food experiences, and educational content, Nathalie documents pieces of Haitian life and memory while creating space for others to contribute their own. Her online community has become part of that process in a place where people don't simply swipe up, but remember, question, share, and reconnect.

At the heart of Nathalie’s practice is a desire to keep Haiti present instead of a Haiti frozen in the past>
Archiving and reinventing keeps it alive, evolving, and open to new interpretations.

She creates to remember, to build, and to make room for others to do the same.

“Danse Mawoule” celebrates the freedom of women to move, express, and exist unapologetically. Inspired by the energy, sensuality, strength, and individuality of women in motion, this black-and-white artwork captures a moment of liberation

Pilon Lakay Dinner experiences hosted by Nathalie Jean-Baptiste creates gathering centered around Haitian gastronomy, culture and story telling

Haitian Artist Nathalie Jean-Baptiste with Haitian singer and cultural preservationist Riva Precil at Haiti Cultural Exchange for their "What paper remembers" curated by Yvena Despagne and Regine Roumain. Nathalie's earthquake series featured.

Bacheler Jean-Pierre co-host of CHABON x PILON on July 11th, curated by Nathalie Jean-Baptiste at Aterlier Artist in Brooklyn

Three women in a dimly lit indoor space, with one woman wearing a top hat and patterned pants, holding a guitar. Another woman is seated with her hand on her chin, and the third woman stands behind a portrait on an easel. There are paintings on the w

Haitian artist and creative host Nathalie Jean-Baptiste cooking for her Pilon Lakay blog series.

Haitian Artist Nathalie Jean-Baptiste presenting Pilon Lakay that elevates and preserves Haitian culinary heritage

Group of seven women standing together at an art gallery, smiling, with colorful artwork hanging on the wall behind them.

Haitian Artist Nathalie Jean-Baptiste, in her studio, painting "Deye Barye" one of her storytelling paintings of her Haitian upbringing and heritage

A woman with short curly hair and dark skin, wearing a red dress with thin straps, gold and green earrings, and dark lipstick. She is sitting against a red background.

A young woman with dark curly hair sitting among black and white abstract paintings on easels in an art studio.

A woman with shoulder-length black hair in an art gallery, wearing a black top and pearl earrings, looking over her shoulder at the camera.

Pawol Rasin Book Club hosted by Haitian Artist and curator Nathalie Jean-Baptiste. Invited guest Fabienne Josaphat speaks on the book of the month "Kingdom of No Tomorrow".

A person holding a homemade red paper lantern with window cutouts, decorated for Christmas. In the background, there is a Christmas tree and holiday decorations, promoting a Haitian cultural event celebrating the spirit of Haiti's Christmas season.

A woman with curly black hair and red lipstick adjusting her hair, standing next to a decorated Christmas tree with presents at the base.

Fanal Making workshop with cultural preservationist and Haitian Artist Nathalie Jean-Baptiste. Curated by Haiti Cultural Exchange

Painting of six women dancing, dressed in yellow skirts and blue tops, on a red background.

A holiday photo of a diverse group of people in a Christmas-themed photo frame decorated with greenery, pink ribbons, and ornaments, set against a wooden background.

Person holding a small red paper house with yellow windows and a red roof, in front of a decorated Christmas tree.

A woman with dark hair and large earrings is painting on a canvas with a brush. She is focused on her artwork in a black and white photo.

Group of eight people sitting and smiling in a living room, with artwork on the wall and a floor lamp. Four women and four men of diverse backgrounds, dressed in casual and semi-formal attire.

A festive holiday dinner table setting with a Christmas theme, including black plates, gold utensils, red napkins, decorative trees, and greenery centerpiece.

A holiday table setting with four place settings, each featuring a black plate on a woven placemat, a red cloth napkin with a gold napkin ring, and a menu card, decorated with a festive centerpiece of greenery, pinecones, gold accents, and a small de

A holiday table setting with black plates, red napkins, gold ribbons, wine glasses, and a decorative gold bottle brush tree with greenery and string lights.

Close-up of gold butterfly-shaped jewelry on lace fabric with a woven placemat and wooden bowl in the background.

White cups with blue rims arranged on a display table alongside packets of organic tea.

A woman with short dark hair and brown skin sitting on a wooden chair, holding a glass of red wine, wearing an off-shoulder rust-colored dress. She is in front of a backdrop decorated with green, red, and gold velvet curtains, highlighted with string

Decorative backdrop with gold, green, and red drapes and string lights, likely for an event or celebration. Out-of-focus table setting with white flowers and tableware in the foreground.

Collection of heart-shaped notes with handwritten messages, arranged on a wooden surface.

Outdoor dinner gathering during nighttime with a table full of food, drinks, and lit candles, surrounded by people in conversation. The background shows a building with lit windows and parked cars.

A nighttime outdoor dinner table with plates, glasses, and utensils, featuring a centerpiece with candles and bowls of food, including a platter of sliced vegetables.

A table set for a meal with woven placemats, gold cutlery, white plates with beige napkins tied with gold ribbons, and glassware. In the center, there's a large oval tray of assorted sliced cucumbers and radishes, garnished with edible flowers. The t

A woman with dark hair, wearing gold earrings and a gold necklace, smiling and holding a glass of red wine outdoors at night. She is dressed in an off-the-shoulder rust-colored top. In the background, there is a hammock, some chairs, and greenery.

A blue tin of Danish butter cookies on a lace tablecloth, surrounded by small white flowers. In the background, there are several ceramic bowls and some wooden bowls filled with cinnamon sticks and dried herbs. A handwritten note with a message about

A collection of printed photographs scattered on a gray fabric surface, featuring people at a social gathering or party.

A black plate with cooked vegetables and grilled meat, garnished with a green chili, served with a creamy white sauce and grilled carrots. In the background, a small bowl of cooked rice with yellow and brown ingredients.

An outdoor dining table set with woven placemats, white napkins with gold accents, gold utensils, decorative white shells, and mason jar vases with white flowers and greenery, illuminated by small table lamps with striped shades.

A woman with dark hair tied back, wearing a teal tank top and yellow patterned skirt, sits on an outdoor light-colored sectional sofa with a black and white patterned rug underneath, surrounded by greenery and outdoor lights at night.

A group of seven people at a dinner gathering outdoors at night, smiling and posing for the camera. The table has various dishes, bowls, and drinks, and is decorated with lit candles.

A wooden tray filled with dried apple slices, a glass of orange beverage with mint and ice, a decorative tray, a blue bowl of guacamole with chips, and some folded paper napkins on a black table.

Three people, two women and a man, are observing artworks in an art gallery. The woman on the left has curly hair and is wearing a beige coat. The woman in the middle has black hair tied back, wearing earrings and a colorful scarf. The man on the rig

A woman standing near a large screen displaying instructions for a paint activity. The woman has curly hair styled with a yellow hair clip and is wearing a yellow dress with colorful patterns. There is a laptop on a desk, and a small book titled 'Tro

A group of people posing together in a cozy indoor setting, some standing and some sitting, with warm lighting and artwork on the walls, celebrating and smiling.

A group of four women with dark curly and braided hair, smiling at the camera, seated on a black carpet. In the background, an easel with sketches, a drum, and a lamp, with a black curtain on the wall.

A woman with long dark hair wearing a patterned shirt, standing at a table with various items, reaching for something. Behind her is a tall plant, a small table with a lamp, and a framed artwork on the wall.

A person slicing cheese on a cutting board with cheese, grapes, berries, and snacks on a table, with shadows cast on the wall.

A woman holding a microphone speaking to an audience at an art event, with sketches of women's faces on an easel beside her, and a group of people seated around her.

A black and white photo of a live performance or poetry reading in a small venue with an audience, featuring a woman in the center speaking or singing into a microphone, surrounded by several other women and some men on stage and in the audience.