Creating Dangerously

What does it mean to create in the face of loss and uncertainty? In this intimate and expansive conversation, acclaimed author Edwidge Danticat and multidisciplinary artist Manuel Mathieu reflect on their creative journeys, tracing the origins of their respective practices and the formative moments that gave them permission to see themselves as artists.

Edwidge Danticat is the author of numerous books, including Breath, Eyes, Memory, Krik? Krak!, and The Farming of Bones. Her work explores migration, memory, and the Haitian diaspora. She is a MacArthur Fellow and teaches at Columbia University.

Manuel Mathieu is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, ceramics, and installation. Born in Haiti and based in Montreal, his practice examines historical violence, memory, and spiritual legacy. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. He will debut new and existing works at the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.