My name is Michael Bazelais, or BAZ, and I am a Haitian American artist based in Stamford, Connecticut. I obtained my B.F.A. in Fine Arts from the University of Hartford in Hartford, CT. My primary focus is on painting. My work centers on portraiture, using oil paint to explore emotion, identity, and presence. Drawn to facial expression and eye contact, I create pieces that engage the viewer directly, inviting a moment of connection and reflection.

Working with subtle brushstrokes and soft blending, my approach leans toward realism while preserving a sense of intimacy and restraint. Oil paint’s flexibility allows me to build depth in skin tones and emotion, creating work that feels both grounded and expressive.

Influenced by the Black culture I was raised within, my art reflects themes of dignity, vulnerability, and empowerment. My portraits honor the beauty of skin, the strength of women and men alike, and the unspoken language carried through the eyes. Each piece exists as a quiet exchange—where emotion is not explained, but felt.