May 17 - June 21, 2025
From Heidi Vaughan Fine Art:
“HEIDI VAUGHAN FINE ART is proud to present a very special exhibition of artistic works by Haitian-American artist Mathieu JN Baptiste, titled Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams Just Keep Sleeping. The show opens Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 11 am. A reception with the artist will take place later that day from 5 pm to 8 pm at 3510 Lake St. at Colquitt in Houston’s oldest Gallery Row. The exhibition runs May 17 through June 21. An artist talk will take place at 1 pm on Saturday, June 7.
“Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams Just Keep Sleeping is more than a title— it’s a challenge, a warning, and a little bit of a joke all rolled into one. This show is dedicated to the youth— especially the ones growing up in environments where dreaming big can feel risky, or even unrealistic. I know what it means to be told to ‘wake up’ and face reality. But the truth is, if we don’t protect our dreams and give them space to grow, someone else will shape our future for us. The exhibition explores the illusion of competition: while one child appears idle, resting or daydreaming, another is seen actively training or studying for the same goal. This contrast challenges the assumption that rest is laziness. Instead, it reminds us that rest is a vital part of the journey. This body of work is a tribute to the daydreamers, the misfits, the kids who sketch in the margins of their notebooks, and the ones who’ve been told to sit still when their spirit wants to run. Each piece is a visual reminder that your dream has value, that your story matters, and that no one else can do what you’re here to do. Keep sleeping. Keep dreaming. And then wake up and make it real.”
-Mathieu JN Baptiste
JN Baptiste’s art reflects the good, the hopeful, and the interconnectedness of a better world. The core of his artistic prowess is his belief that art should teach, heal, and inspire. His works give voice to the oppressed of an ever-evolving generation.
This is the first gallery solo show for JN Baptiste, who was born in Port Au Prince, Haiti, and is based in Houston, Texas. JN Baptiste spent his early years in Haiti and St. Paul, Minnesota. A self-taught artist, he uses paint and metal as tools to unite the world around him. His work is displayed and recognized throughout Houston. Among his many projects are a basketball court at Burnett Bayland Park in Gulfton (created with District J, Precinct 4, the Gulfton Management District, and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department); the beloved and historic mural at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church that celebrates and elevates those who created the first African American Baptist Church in Houston (made possible with assistance from the Houston Arts Alliance); at the Women’s Hospital of Texas, a mural created as part of HeART for Heroes during the height of the COVID pandemic that acknowledges the sacrifices of healthcare workers and continues to inspire new families. In March of 2025, JN Baptiste was presented with the Carolyn Grant Fay Humanitarian Award by the Jung Center for his work to uplift Haitians and all people, including immigrants, through art.
JN Baptiste’s artwork is displayed locally, nationally, and globally in museums, governmental buildings, educational institutions, healthcare clinics, hospitals, in public murals, and in private art collections. He serves as an art consultant and instructor to educational institutions, private penitentiaries, and civic organizations. His work has been exhibited in the African Art Museum in Dallas, Houston Museum of African American Culture, the Contemporary Art Center in New Orleans, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Art Space 111 in Fort Worth, the Woman’s Hospital of Texas, Discovery Green, the Jung Center Houston, Rice University, Art Basel 2019 Art Beat Miami, Haiti’s Presidential Palace, the, the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Houston Freedman’s Town Conservancy, the Houston’s George Bush International Airport, the William P. Hobby Airport, the Houston Zoo, the Health Museum, and the City of Houston, among many others. He has participated in numerous charity events including APROFISA and the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti.”
Reception: May 17, 2025 | 5–8 pm
3510 Lake Street
Houston, 77098 Texas
(832) 875-6477
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