In Conversation with Tiffany Alfonseca: Painting with Pastel Vibes & Centering Afro-Latinxs in Her Art

Portrait courtesy of the artist.

Tiffany Alfonseca (she/her) is a young, blossoming, Bronx-based artist with Afro-Dominican roots. Her paintings feature inviting and soothing colors with Black figures doing everyday things. Alfonseca candidly talks about her art journey so far, centering Afro-Latinidad in her work, and creating new art during these unpredictable quarantine times.

GG: Your paintings feel like home, your colors are soft and tropical, and features beautiful Black folks. Can you talk about your aesthetic in your art?

TA: Thank you. I’ve always been inspired by plant life, growing up with plants all over the apartment, and my mother’s decor color choices were always very bright shades of teal, pinks, blues, yellows, etc. I can say my work has taken a nostalgic approach when I started incorporating all these aesthetics and creating a body of work with it. I want my figures to really stand out, and I thought to myself what better way to incorporate a Black/Brown body on a pastel color palette, than to emphasize the meaning of Blackness, yet still remaining true to the Dominican culture with my bold color palette. 

Why is it important to center Black womxn in your art?

My intent is to celebrate the Blackness of the Dominican Republic which we don’t see very often, and growing up I never saw Afro-Latinx art. As a Dominicana of a lighter complexion I don’t feel the need to represent what has always been represented as a “typical Latina”. I want to shed light on Afro-Latinidad and embrace it because unfortunately, Dominicans tend to be in denial of their Blackness (but that’s a topic for another day!). That’s when I created, “I Hope My Blackness Offends You” in 2018, a piece that not only is visually stimulating but very crucial for the culture. 

“I want my figures to really stand out, and I thought to myself what better way to incorporate a Black/Brown body on a pastel color palette, than to emphasize the meaning of Blackness, yet still remaining true to the Dominican culture with my bold color palette.”

“What A Real Barbie Looks Like”, 2018, Acrylic paint on stretched canvas. Courtesy of the artist.

Besides using a pastel color palette you also use glitter and shiny stones, what do these sparkle elements add to your work?

When you see something shiny and shimmery, doesn’t it catch your attention almost instantly? It’s like, “hey, look at me!”, and thats the reaction I hope to obtain from my audience when they view my work. Typically I use glitter/rhinestones to fill up the negative space in my painting to keep the viewers mind occupied. Now taking it back to the nostalgic approach, those little 99 cent glittery lipglosses I used as a child still resonate deep in my soul!

“Iglesia”, 2020, Acrylic paint and glitter on stretched canvas. Courtesy of the artist.

You were included in the group show Afro Syncretic, curated by Yelaine Rodriguez, how did it feel to share space with fellow Afro-Latinx artists?

It was a complete honor and privilege! Not only is Yelaine an amazing artist, she has a true eye for art and it showed completely in this show. Having artwork by Joiri Minaya, Lucia Hierro, and Fabiola Jean-Louis all in the same room showed such variation and we all complemented each other’s work so well. Given that was my first group show, it was a powerful feeling to have shared that space with such passionate incredible artists.

“Between you and I”, 2018, Acrylic paint and glitter on stretched canvas. Courtesy of the artist.

What's next for 2020, but real talk, feel free to be honest about these uncertain times we're in and how you're coping.

Girl, I’m honestly just trying to remain positive and sane! Although 2020 hasn’t been smooth, its given me the time to explore more mediums and pick up old ones such as drawing. Drawing was my first love, and I’m glad to be incorporating that solely in my new “In Quarantine Series” . But yeah, with all this time spent at home I plan on building up my portfolio and waiting til the coast is clear with this pandemic to officially make any moves. Overall, I’m doing alright, I’m just finishing up my last semester for my BFA at SVA, so shout-outs to accomplishments!

“My intent is to celebrate the Blackness of the Dominican Republic which we don’t see very often, and growing up I never saw Afro-Latinx art.”

The Black Woman” , 2018, Acrylic Paint and glitter on stretched canvas. Courtesy of the artist.