asser saint-val
My work as an artist begins with a deeply personal inquiry: What is the origin of skin color and its layered meanings? As a teenager emigrating from Haiti to Miami, I encountered racial discrimination for the first time. This experience led me beyond surface definitions of skin color toward self-guided research into melanin—especially neuromelanin, a pigment in the brain linked to detoxification, energy conversion, and neurological function. This investigation became the conceptual foundation of my art, guiding my exploration of identity, transformation, and the hidden power within.
For over a decade, I have translated these ideas into large-scale public artworks that balance conceptual depth with material permanence. My projects—ranging from bronze sculptures and hand-cut glass mosaics to immersive installations—are research-driven and shaped by dialogue with the communities they serve. Works like Peacolli, a mosaic mural for Miami-Dade County’s Bus Rapid Transit system, and Yellow Elder, a monumental bronze sculpture honoring Bahamian pioneers in Coconut Grove, weave ecological storytelling with diasporic histories to create visual landmarks resonating across time and place.
Neuromelanin has long occupied a space between science and spirituality. From René Descartes’ description of the pineal gland as the “seat of the soul” to Dr. Richard King’s framing of it as a “biological gateway to African spirituality,” I discovered fertile ground for a practice merging ancient and modern sciences, metaphysics, and esoteric philosophies with contemporary aesthetics.
My approach often combines ambiguous, quasi-figurative forms with surreal environments, merging human anatomy, natural elements, and cosmic landscapes. Many installations integrate sound, movement, and scent to create multisensory experiences that expand audience engagement beyond the visual. I collaborate closely with engineers, architects, and fabricators to ensure each work fulfills aesthetic and conceptual goals while meeting the highest standards of durability, safety, and site integration.
Ultimately, whether through painting, installation, performance, bronze, etched metal, or mosaic, my goal is to create enduring public artworks that invite reflection on our shared humanity—offering moments of recognition, curiosity, and wonder within the spaces we inhabit every day.