• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Black Art & Design

News and thoughtful perspectives on the world of black art & design

bad December 7, 2021 Art ·

Meet London-based Director, Artist and Storyteller Leian John-Baptiste.  

“I think storytelling is a playful, powerful medium that has the power to open hearts, inspire minds, challenge perspectives or offer new ones.” 

Meet Leian John-Baptiste 

Meet London-based Director, Artist and Storyteller Leian John-Baptiste.  

BA&D: Tell us a bit about yourself.  

LJB: I’m an Artist, Director & Storyteller who is very interested in identity and the unique and diverse experiences we go through. I am drawn to untold stories and using my work to showcase unheard voices. I am currently working writing a screenplay. It’s important to me that there are more creative role models that represent Black audiences. 

BA&D: Where did you grow up and what role did creativity play growing up? 
 

LBJ: Growing up, creativity was everything for me. I was always a fun and playful child, always emotional and intuitive. Expressing myself creatively felt essential to my survival. That might sound dramatic but the act of creating was always an outlet that helped me to process my thoughts and feelings. Whether it was borrowing my mum’s video camera and casting my sister as my lead actress, painting, singing or something else. Those were my happiest moments.  

“I think storytelling is a playful, powerful medium that has the power to open hearts, inspire minds, challenge perspectives or offer new ones.” 

BA&D: Why this career path?  

LBJ: Feels like a calling. I’ve tried to do other things, but I always end up back wanting, needing to create, to tell stories. I think storytelling is a playful, powerful medium that has the power to open hearts, inspire minds, challenge perspectives or offer new ones. I’m inspired by everything; music, movies, books, people, nature, everything! Two of my biggest inspirations are Ava Duvernay and Ryan Coogler.  

BA&D: From a creative perspective, what was your biggest challenge and highlight in the last year? 

LBJ: The biggest challenge in this last year was all the theatres being closed. It meant fewer directing opportunities for stage. The silver lining was more time to focus on screen. Luckily, I love both mediums.  

The highlight? Making it through the year! Does that count? 2020 was a mad year, just to make it to the end with your health and a smile on your face, to me is the biggest win of all. Many of us weren’t so lucky.  

BA&D: Looking ahead – what are you working on?  

LBJ: More writing and more directing. I really want to start directing stuff that I’ve written, so I’m working on that. I’ve been putting it off for far too long! 

BA&D: What does your social distancing reading and watch list include? 

LBJ: Pretty much any book from Iyanla Vanzant! Sets your spirit right during these crazy times. I 

I’m currently reading one called Spirit of a Man.  

I also just finished a Marvel movie marathon, starting from Iron Man to the latest Spiderman, and everything in between. Currently watching Wandavision on Disney Plus and This Is Us on Amazon Prime.  

BA&D: There’s a lot being spoken about around mental health and the arts. How do you feel about the two? 

LBJ: There’s definitely a relationship between to two. For me, creating – whether writing, acting, dancing, drawing or otherwise – is essential for our mental health. Whether it’s your career or not, I think we all need to make more room for creativity in our lives as it can be a really helpful tool to process your thoughts and feelings without even realising or intending to.  

Related

Khanyisile Mbongwa to curate the Liverpool Biennial in 2023

Khanyisile Mbongwa to curate the Liverpool Biennial in 2023

Her long standing curatorial concerns around care and repair will be vital in thinking about new futures together with the …
Meet London-based Director, Artist and Storyteller Leian John-Baptiste.  

Meet London-based Director, Artist and Storyteller Leian John-Baptiste.  

“I think storytelling is a playful, powerful medium that has the power to open hearts, inspire minds, challenge perspectives or …
Could Art Be The Antidote We Need Right Now?

Could Art Be The Antidote We Need Right Now?

Abigal Sewell On The Intentionality And Connectedness Of Creativity …
Photo credit/caption:filipwolak...:  Filip Wolak, color photo of a dark skinned black man bent over in a long arabesque wearing a white jacket and durag. 

Jerron Herman On Art & The Joy Of Advocacy

“When I think about how I can contribute to society, art provides the best container for impactful viscerality.” …
FRANK BOWLING WINS 2022 WOLFGANG HAHN PRIZE

FRANK BOWLING WINS 2022 WOLFGANG HAHN PRIZE

The Museum Ludwig will acquire his 2020 acrylic-on-canvas work Flogging the Dead Donkey …
City of London U-turn on historic statues means slave trader sculptures will stay in place

City of London U-turn on historic statues means slave trader sculptures will stay in place

William Beckford and John Cass figures will be “retained and explained”, as recommended by the UK government …
Sculptor Sandra Mujinga Awarded 2021  Preis der Nationalgalerie

Sculptor Sandra Mujinga Awarded 2021 Preis der Nationalgalerie

Though no funding is attached to the prize, which was established in 2013, it is sought after as a seal …
Yinka Shonibare sculptures sold to fund fellowship for Black and POC curators at V&A East

Yinka Shonibare sculptures sold to fund fellowship for Black and POC curators at V&A East

It’s time to “to grasp the nettle”, says the museum’s director Gus Casely-Hayford of the Frieze x Deutsche Bank Emerging …
A New School of Architecture Headquartered in Accra

A New School of Architecture Headquartered in Accra

The African Futures Institute (AFI), founded in Accra, Ghana, is a new venture that aims to offer a radically different …

Filed Under: Art Tagged With: Stories

Primary Sidebar

Exhibitions

Azuka Muoh
Cape Town, South Africa
Tunji Adeniyi-Jones
New York, United States
Mwangi Hunter
Paris, France
Stacey Gillian
London, United Kingdom
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye
London, United Kingdom

Related articles

Being More Yourself

Meet London-based Director, Artist and Storyteller Leian John-Baptiste.  

Ayanna Witter-Johnson On Intention And Purpose As An Artist

Victoria Adukwei Bulley On Feeling More ‘Possible’ In This World

Could Art Be The Antidote We Need Right Now?

Footer

Black Art & Design is a space to explore the work of emerging and established black creatives in the arts.

© 2023 BLACK ART & DESIGN · Design By Bloom