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Featured Artist: Daveed Baptiste – Redefining Fashion, Culture, and Identity

  • 7 minutes ago
  • 2 min read

About the Artist

Born in Haiti and raised in Miami before settling in New York City, Daveed Baptiste is an interdisciplinary designer whose artistry lives at the intersection of fashion, textiles, and photography. His work is deeply personal, shaped by his experience as a Haitian immigrant and his reflections on themes of identity, race, and class within the diaspora.


Daveed Baptiste

Armed with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design, Baptiste specializes in artisanal menswear, with a strong emphasis on sculptural denim. His vision redefines how Black identity and Caribbean heritage are presented in fashion and art.


His photography has been recognized by Vogue, The New Yorker, and international institutions. In 2016, Baptiste was honored as a YoungArts winner in both photography and visual arts.


Residency at Materials for the Arts

Currently serving as the Designer-in-Residence at Materials for the Arts (MFTA) in Long Island City, Baptiste broke new ground by curating MFTA’s first-ever fashion exhibition.


Titled “Soaring High”, the showcase was a deeply symbolic narrative of a Haitian immigrant boy navigating identity and belonging. The exhibition combined evolving fashion silhouettes with Black hairstyles—boldly reclaiming cultural expression and resilience.


“Soaring High” ran through August 1, 2025, and featured an intimate artist talk where Baptiste shared the story behind his creative process and Haitian influences.


Daveed Baptiste Lookbook

Recent Projects

  • Ti Maché (2023): A solo exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA). This eight-look menswear collection honored Haitian heritage through gingham, denim, and hand-crafted textiles, representing migration, resistance, and memory.

  • Haiti To Hood: A powerful cultural project that interrogates issues of race, gender, and class within the Caribbean diaspora, bridging Haiti’s past with the realities of urban life.

  • Converse Collaboration: Baptiste co-designed the Black Joy Collection for Converse, celebrating resilience, heritage, and self-expression.


Recognition & Vision

Baptiste’s artistry is not only about garments and photographs—it is about storytelling through fabric, texture, and imagery. His work places Haitian identity in global conversations, ensuring visibility for narratives often overlooked.


By blending artisanal craftsmanship, bold aesthetics, and diasporic storytelling, Daveed Baptiste continues to redefine what it means to be a designer in today’s cultural landscape.


Connect with Daveed Baptiste

📧 Press Inquiries: Daveed.Bap@gmail.com

🌍 Portfolio: daveedbaptiste.art📍


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