سيرة
Jason "JaFLEU" Fleurant is an award-winning Haitian American self-taught cartoonist, filmmaker, and NAACP Image Award winner. Raised in West Palm Beach, FL, JaFLEU discovered his creative voice in response to the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, igniting a mission-driven career in the arts. In 2014, he founded Exhibit Treal in his apartment as a platform to showcase his work and elevate fellow creatives of color. This venture led him to curate exhibitions in esteemed galleries, including all three floors of 1310 Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, as well as exhibit in multiple Art Basel exhibits, and international showcases such as Galerie in Paris. Artistic Journey & Recognition As a visual artist, JaFLEU's work has been exhibited internationally and is owned by notable figures such as Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Senator Cory Booker, recording artist Jill Scott, the late XXXTentacion, and Spelling Bee champion Zaila Avant-Garde. His transition into animation began in 2016, leading to the evolution of Exhibit Treal into Exhibit Treal Studios in 2021 and the creation of his signature animation brand, TREAL TOONZ (founded in 2017). His artwork has been featured in Hulu's Huluween, children's book illustrations, business branding, and even displayed on NYC's Times Square billboards over Paramount Studios. Jason 'JaFLEU' Fleurant has been featured in articles by NPR, South Florida Times, Palm Beach Post, and The Atlantic Current, etc. His work and journey have also been spotlighted through interviews on platforms like Curve the Cube Podcast, X102.3, and 101.5 the Vibe Tampa Bay, further cementing his influence in both art and media. Breakthrough in Animation JaFLEU's Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz and Reppin' Matterz web series have garnered multiple awards and accolades. Peanut Headz marked his first major recognition when it was nominated for "Outstanding Animated Series" at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards (2022), competing against industry titans like Netflix and a production by the Obamas. Both series were also official selections on South Florida PBS' "Film-maker Project" and won "Best Web Series" at the Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival (2020 & 2021) and the Urban Film Festival (2020). In 2021, JaFLEU's self-published book Teddy's Big Break was adapted into an animated short film, winning "Best Animated Short" at the Drive-In Events. His work continued to make waves, with Exhibit Treal Studios earning another NAACP Image Award nomination at the 55th NAACP Image Awards for its short film Ego's Curse. That same year, JaFLEU won the "Orson Welles Best Director" Award at the Los Angeles Motion Picture Festival. The breakthrough moment came in 2025 when Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz' short on Jackie Robinson won the 56th NAACP Image Award for "Outstanding Short Form (Animated)". Global Recognition JaFLEU's work has made an international impact, with Peanut Headz being selected for prestigious festivals such as: 2021 International Film Festival (screened at Kino Muza, Poland) Lima Web Fest (Peru) - Nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Web Series (public voting category) 4th Kenya International Sports Film Festival (Africa) Screenings in London and AMC Theaters A Visionary in Indie Filmmaking Jason "JaFLEU" Fleurant has carved a distinct lane for himself as an indie filmmaker, director, and animator, dedicated to telling TREAL tales that celebrate Black stories. Whether through paint on canvas, digital illustrations, or animation, his mission remains the same-bringing powerful narratives to life.
