SaveArtSpace is proud to present Ansamn, a public art exhibition on billboard ad space in Brooklyn, NY. Curated by Yvena Despagne of Art x Ayiti.

The Ansamn selected artist is Mel Isidor.

It is the assumption that when it comes to Haitian art, people only think of this work in the sense of traditional Naïve art or Haitian folklore. The times have changed and the new generation of Haitian artists are moving in a more contemporary way in creating works. In celebration of Haitian heritage month, I would like to share the artwork of the more recent generation, who are thriving in the arts worldwide. Ansamn (meaning ‘together’ in Haitian Creole) shares how the works of Haitian diasporic artists have evolved in recent years, and how together we continue to build community, voicing our narratives through our own experiences as Haitians. 

Opening April 25, 2025, SaveArtSpace will launch a public art installation for the selected artwork on billboard ad space in Brooklyn, NY. The public art will be on view for at least one month.

Selected Artist

Mel is a designer, urban planner, and mixed-media artist based between Seattle, WA, and Boston, MA. Her creative spirit stems from a fascination with the built environment—seeking to unpack how our urban fabric reflects people and culture. 

Through her art, she seeks to create compositions that evoke elements of dynamism, nostalgia, and imagination to culminate into works that transcend temporal and spatial boundaries. By blending the realism of photography with the abstraction of collage her creations physically and metaphorically layer time and space.

Mel leads her own her own consultancy [Isidor Studio] exploring the intersections of art, design, and urbanism. Her passions lie in work that connects multiple mediums and methodologies—including photography, ethnographic research, graphic design, web design, mapping, and illustration.

Artist Statement:

This piece is part of my “Roots” series, a collection of mixed media collages on reconnecting with my family and the landscape in Haiti. All of the imagery was compiled from original photography and archival family photos.

Featured in the center of the piece is my late Aunt Yolette. I never had the opportunity to meet her though she is remembered as a woman with a magnetic presence, eloquence, and keen sense of style—leaving a lasting impression that lives on. The landscape behind weaves images taken on a road trip from Port Au Prince up through the center of Haiti along the Artibonite River.

Connect with Mel at @izi__dor.

Curator

Yvena Despagne (b.1984)⁠ is a Haitian-American art curator, based in New York city. She has a focus on working with emerging to mid-way career artists and highlighting their stories. She aims to encourage and provide opportunities for artists, who are interested in intercultural collaboration, dialogue and to indulge in culture. 

Yvena was the former Art Director at La MaMa Galleria, in the East Village of Manhattan, where she has curated one of her latest art exhibitions The Birds Told Me Your Lies, a solo exhibition by Rafaella Braga. She has been featured as a panelist for A+E Network: Art Baesel hosted by Tanya Weddimire, founder and director of Tanya Weddimire Gallery. She is also the Founder and Creative Director for Art x Ayiti, an online platform dedicated to highlighting and uplifting contemporary artists of Haitian descent and the Diaspora.

Her most recent projects include consultation for the exhibition of Paul Gardere at Cooper Union, curating the BYENVENI Haitian exhibition as a fellowship for the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute, curating artwork for the SHOWTIME television series Flatbush Misdemeanor, The Iconic Project by artist Tanda Francis as an assistant to the artist (presented by The Dean Collection) and curating The Atlantic Avenue Art Walk (1.5 mile art walk) with Arts Gowanus, the non-profit organization in Gowanus, Brooklyn. 

Yvena continues to curate art exhibitions throughout New York City, where she works and resides. 

Connect with Yvena on Instagram at @yvenadespagneart.

Participating Organizations

Art x Ayiti celebrates and promotes the richness and diversity of Haitian art and culture in all its forms. Haitian art continues to evolve and thrive, and is an important part of the country's cultural heritage. Our purpose is to create a vibrant and supportive global art community that showcases the work of Haitian contemporary artists, and to create a dynamic and inclusive space that connects artists, cultural practitioners, and art enthusiasts from around the world.

Art x Ayiti aims to reinvent the approach to discovering and collecting Haitian contemporary art, going beyond the traditional art paradigm, to showcase exceptional emerging talent through social content, art exhibitions, and strategic partnerships.

We are committed to supporting the next generation of artists, and engage with a global community of fellow creators, providing a space for artists to share their work, and access resources that will help them to achieve their artistic goals.

Fostering creativity, dialogue, and understanding, we aim to empower Haitian artists by amplifying their voices, promoting their talents, and facilitating meaningful connections and collaborations. We believe that by sharing their stories and their art, we can foster greater understanding, appreciation, and respect for the Haitian community and its artistic traditions.

We believe that art and culture have the power to transcend boundaries, inspire dialogue, and promote empathy, and we strive to create a safe and inclusive space where diverse voices can be heard and respected. Our platform will also promote educational initiatives, workshops, and events that promote art appreciation, art literacy, and artistic development. encouraging dialogue, feedback, and appreciation for art as a form of cultural expression.We believe that by sharing their stories and their art, we can foster greater understanding, appreciation, and respect for the Haitian community and its artistic traditions.

Connect with Art x Ayiti on Instagram at @artxayiti.

Founded in 2015, SaveArtSpace is a non-profit organization that works to create an urban gallery experience, launching exhibitions that address intersectional themes and foster a message of social change that benefits the working class. By placing culture over commercialism, SaveArtSpace aims to empower artists from all walks of life and inspire a new generation of young creatives and activists.