The life of Alix Baptiste is indeed a portrait of the great American dream.  Growing up in Haiti where poverty, oppression and despair were prevalent, Baptiste paid for his education by selling mangos.  As a child, when he couldn't afford to buy a school book, he borrowed one from a friend and painstakingly handwrote the entire book.

In 1984, he sailed the treacherous waters of the Caribbean by boat for 15 days - and ill-fated journey in which many of his fellow travelers died. After several stops in the Caribbean, he ultimately landed in Savannah where his father resided.  During a visit with his stepmother at the Savannah River Festival, he expressed an interest in art.  His stepmother bought him $50 worth of art supplies, he painted two canvases and sold them for $250 each.  The rest is history.

Despite his lack of formal art training, Baptiste quickly blossomed as an artist, taking the local art scene by storm.  In 1986, the Savannah Art Association named Baptiste "Savannah's Most Popular Artist".  His work has appeared in a number of national magazines including, Black Enterprise, Ebony and Upscale.  He has been invited to participate in Disney World's Millennium celebration, "Color Me Natural" Leggs' Corporation Campaign, and United Airlines' Hemisphere Magazine.

 Today his art gallery and studio is located in City Market at 307 West St. Julian Street, Savannah, Georgia.