Eustace Mamba & Alain Jean-Baptiste: Under the Influence

Paradigm Gallery + Studio is pleased to present Under the Influence, a two-person exhibition curated by writer and curator Ginger Rudolph. Rudolph believes that art has the power to document, process, and transform personal experiences, which she illustrates through the work of fine artist Eustace Mamba and painter Alain Jean-Baptiste. Rudolph encourages these artists to explore deeply personal forces–family memories, environmental traumas, career triumphs– that have shaped their creative paths to fashion a narrative championing cultural heritage, identity, and self-discovery. Through painting, sculpture, mixed media, photography, and installation, this exhibition showcases how these young artists navigate their inner worlds, utilizing their art practice as a means of reflection, healing, and revelation. Each work serves as a visual testament to the influences—seen and unseen—that have left an imprint on their lives and artistic expression. Using diasporic fiber art techniques, Mamba reconstructs the static ideas surrounding American Black life by uplifting the characters and city vignettes that fuel his perspective. Similarly, Jean-Baptiste reflects on the buildup and aftermath his family faced after a major natural disaster tore through their home in Haiti. Through the artwork, Mamba and Jean-Baptiste’s complex individualities converge in a globally understood story of emerging stronger from hardship–validating Rudolph’s doctrine of art as a personal journey. From intimate confessions to universal truths, Under the Influence challenges viewers to consider how their personal encounters can shape creativity, allowing art to become a vehicle for understanding, connection, and transformation