"Don't Know How You Do" Artwork

Tafy LaPlanche is a Queens, New York, USA-based Afro-Latina artist known for her bold, vibrant portraits that celebrate the uniqueness of her subjects. Her journey into art began in an unexpected place—hospitalized at thirteen with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, she was handed paper and a pen while others played video games. From that moment, drawing became her way of understanding the world. Her artistic path took an unexpected turn when she enrolled in a Mandarin-speaking art school. Despite the language barrier, she discovered the profound power of visual storytelling. Of Haitian descent, Tafy had initially been encouraged to paint idyllic Caribbean landscapes—but everything shifted during a study abroad trip in Tuscany. One afternoon, while painting a landscape, she was suddenly stung by a bee over her eyelid and lost her sight. An elderly local woman took her in, pressing an onion over her eye to soothe the sting. As her vision gradually returned, Tafy became captivated not by the scenery, but by the woman tending her chickens, caring for a stranger, and simply living her life. It was in that moment she realized what she truly wanted to paint: people, their lives, and their stories. Watching everyday life unfold in a foreign land, and placing her trust in strangers, she realized the depth and universality of human connection. Through her work, Tafy uses portraiture to tell stories without words—stories that transcend language, geography, and identity. Her paintings have been featured in galleries across the United States, including a solo exhibition at the prestigious Telfair Museums. With every brushstroke, Tafy LaPlanche continues to honor individuality and human connection—one vibrant portrait at a time.