Emmanuel Massillon

Born in 1998, in Washington DC, US
Lives and works in Washington DC and New York City, US

​Emmanuel Massillon is a multidisciplinary African American conceptual artist. Through various mediums, including painting, photography, and sculpture, he explores the complex history of ethnicity, identity, and culture, as well as their relationship with people of African descent. His childhood in the working-class neighborhoods of Washington D.C. shapes the unique narrative he seeks to convey in his work, introducing new ideas through pieces inspired by both everyday life and politically charged subjects. In doing so, he invites his audience to initiate and explore conversations that may not have been addressed before.

Language and materials play a crucial role in his work. He employs numerous visual wordplays and references to street language, enriching the overall experience of his art. The use of language and wordplay is directly inspired by several African American musical genres, such as jazz, R&B, and rap, which Massillon considers pillars of preserving Black culture in the United States. His works incorporate a wide range of materials, from bullet casings and dirt to found objects and wood. These materials, drawn from his environment and cultural history, allow him to express his worldview.

Drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as folk art, music, art history, and African history, Massillon uses multiple references to convey his ideas in a simple yet impactful manner.

When he isn’t working on creating artwork Massillon can be found curating shows to shed light on artists looking to share a similar narrative as him.

Emmanuel Massillon (born in 1998, lives and works in Washington DC and New York City, US) is an American artist.  His work has been presented in group exhibitions at the Baltimore Museum of Art (Baltimore, MD, US), C21 Museum (USA).His works are part of the collections of the Baltimore Museum of Art (Baltimore, MD, US), Flint Art Institute Museum (Flint, MI, US), and C21 Museum (USA).

In recognition of his academic and artistic achievements, he has received several distinctions, including the Silas H. Rhodes Scholarship, the District of Columbia Commission on the Arts and Humanities Exhibitions (Curatorial) Grant, the Gallery Wish x Sprite The Giveback Grant, and the UN/MUTE-10002 virtual residency, sponsored by Undercurrent and the EU National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC).