ARTISTS TO KNOW: TALISA ALMONTE
TALISA ALMONTE
Talisa Almonte is an Afro-Dominican illustrator and artist raised in Miami and currently based in Queens, NY. As the owner of Almonte Studio, named in honor of her artist father and biggest influence, Talisa merges her fine arts and fashion background to create vibrant art that centers inclusivity, empowerment, positive images, and authenticity. After exciting partnerships with Disney+ and the Women’s Box Collective, Talisa shows us the endless possibilities of chasing your creative dreams unapologetically.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
TALISA ALMONTE: I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to two amazing parents who are also Dominican. I joke that my family tree would probably consist of only Dominicans lol (haven't checked though). I moved to Miami when I was four and pretty much grew up there until I decided to move to New York to attend FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology).
SHEER: How did your cultural background and upbringing influence your creative expression?
TA: My father was an artist and very well known in the art scene in the Dominican Republic. He was the one who introduced me to the art world basically since I could hold a pencil. I always admired my dad and wanted to be just like him.
It wasn't until I got older that I started getting into fashion and because of my love for design, I applied and got accepted to this specialized high school in Miami called Design and Architecture Senior High. That school is what ultimately shaped me as both an artist and a designer. I was so lucky to go there and be able to get professional training amongst really talented artists and designers. The first year there was a foundation year so I took mostly fine art classes but then sophomore to senior year is where I was able to learn the fundamentals of fashion design and even participate in fashion shows both as a designer and as a model.
By the time I got to FIT I breezed through the first semester because I had already learned almost everything they were teaching when I was in high school. Because of this background, you can see some of the fashion and designer influence in my work but also the realism that brings it back to my fine art painting days.
SHEER: Love that your design work has some roots in fashion. What drew you to the fashion industry and how has that impacted your design process today?
TA: As cliche as it sounds, I LOVED Project Runway lol. I think that's what really opened my eyes to a career in fashion and being able to learn so much in high school also made me really dream of this glamorous designer life that I wanted. I've had many different jobs during my time working in the fashion industry and I think ultimately it's helped me with communication, visual presentation (especially) and standing up for what I believe in / love. It's definitely a set of skills I don't regret building on even if at the time I didn't see it that way.
“My father was an artist and very well known in the art scene in the Dominican Republic. He was the one who introduced me to the art world basically since I could hold a pencil. I always admired my dad and wanted to be just like him. ”
SHEER: What sparked your transition from corporate to becoming a full time artist? How did you navigate such a major shift?
TA: I can thank the pandemic for that shift actually. I was working full time at Gap doing what they call concept design (essentially gathering fashion trends and presenting it in a visually aesthetic presentation with a Gap filter of course, to all of design to design into every season). Gap had been struggling even before the pandemic so I wasn't that surprised by the major shifts the company decided to make but essentially I was laid off including my entire team and spent 8 months after that unemployed and stuck at home like most people.
I had maybe like 3 weeks of wallowing / playing video games till early morning but then I started to channel my energy to drawing and applying to jobs. I had always wanted to switch over to a more graphic design role so I was trying to make fake projects and reach out to people to collaborate in order to build a portfolio. The applying got me nowhere so I kept on creating work and illustrating and sharing it on Instagram to grow a following because I figured that would be the best way to get seen as an artist.
I ended up accepting an offer with a small fashion company doing their concept design but I only lasted about 5 months before I gave my notice. I was feeling guilty at the thought of quitting a job in a time where so many people were looking for one but the first reason I decided to leave is because I had already become so used to the freelancing lifestyle that I was miserable at the thought of doing another 9-5 job (but really more like 10am-10pm because of the time difference).
The second was that I received the most incredible opportunity to illustrate an alternative movie poster for Star Wars Rogue One to be displayed on Disney+. This literally happened about a month before I gave my notice and I almost felt like it was the universe telling me it was okay to quit and that I was ultimately choosing the better path for me. And the last reason was losing both my aunt and my dad really shifted the way I was thinking about what I wanted for my life and as cliche as it sounds, life IS really too short.
SHEER: How do you balance creating as a full-time artist with the added business responsibilities of being your own boss and marketer?
TA: It's honestly a constant battle. I find myself getting caught up in logistics and business related things that I sometimes don't get to create as much as I'd like but ultimately it's all for the same purpose and both sides bring me a lot of joy, except taxes, no one likes those lol. What I have found that has worked is always carving out some time throughout the day to get some drawing in. It might not be a full day of drawing but I sometimes prefer having half days because it gives me more flexibility to take the day as it comes and manage how I'm feeling.
“Reach out to people who you admire and ask for advice. You’d be surprised by what some people are willing to share about their journey. I always make it known for anyone out there that they can ask me anything. We get better by lifting each other up and there’s plenty of opportunities for us all because we all have our own unique voice and way of viewing the world. ”
SHEER: In what ways does your work celebrate and pay homage to your culture and personal journey becoming the artist you are today?
TA: I do it for my curly Queens :) But in all honesty, I grew up hating my hair because it never quite sat right and not even my mom really knew how to manage it / there weren't as many products out there for curly hair so a lot of my work is around the idea of representation and hoping that some girl out there feels seen with my work. I also battle with self confidence and self doubt and I like to draw women that just own themselves and feel beautiful as they are.
I also recently started doing a Queens, NY food series which really is my way of showing my gratitude for New York and all the opportunities I've been given and especially in Queens where I've been living for most of my adult life. I'm ultimately always inspired by my surroundings and I think that will always be something that translates to my work even if it's subconsciously.
“I also recently started doing a Queens, NY food series which really is my way of showing my gratitude for New York and all the opportunities I’ve been given and especially in Queens where I’ve been living for most of my adult life. I’m ultimately always inspired by my surroundings and I think that will always be something that translates to my work even if it’s subconsciously. ”
SHEER: What have been some of your favorite collaborations and partnerships over the past few years? And what are you most excited about for the future of your art?
TA: I can't say enough great things about the Women's Collective Box, that collaboration was my first real brand collab and I gained a lot of experience and followers from that project and it really opened a lot of doors for me since then. Of course Star Wars because I'm a fan of the films and some of the series and the special connection of dragging my dad to see the movies will always be something I cherish. Wrappr is another collab that was so cool to do because of what her business stands for as far as sustainability and it was my first art licensing contract which has opened my eyes to more possibilities of collaborating with brands in the future.
I'm most excited to see my work and products in stores which is why I'm mainly focusing on creating more products and reaching out to small businesses to wholesale. I'm also excited about two new collaborations that I can't talk about yet but look out for around International Women's Day because it's going to be pretty awesome!
“I do it for my curly Queens :) But in all honesty, I grew up hating my hair because it never quite sat right and not even my mom really knew how to manage it / there weren’t as many products out there for curly hair so a lot of my work is around the idea of representation and hoping that some girl out there feels seen with my work. I also battle with self confidence and self doubt and I like to draw women that just own themselves and feel beautiful as they are.”
SHEER: What advice do you have for anyone who feels called to pursue their art full time but might be afraid of the unknown?
TA: Like Nike, Just DO It. hahaha but honestly I know it is a scary thing to venture into the unknown and a smart person would tell you to make sure you have money saved or have someone that can help you in a time where you might be making less than you are used to but ultimately you gotta hustle. I know hustle culture can be toxic if taken the wrong way, but what I mean by hustle is that you have to be willing to do the work and put yourself out there. Nothing comes from nothing.
Also reach out to people who you admire and ask for advice. You'd be surprised by what some people are willing to share about their journey. I always make it known for anyone out there that they can ask me anything. We get better by lifting each other up and there's plenty of opportunities for us all because we all have our own unique voice and way of viewing the world.
SHEER: What do you hope people take away from interacting with your art?
TA: I hope people feel uplifted and seen. There's so much chaos in the world around us that I really try to give that positive light or hope that I feel we could all use a lot of right now.
Photography by Nabila Wirakusumah
Valerie Blaise, founder of leather accessories brand Vavvoune describes someone who wears her designs as curious, intentional, and knows what they want. We could feel these qualities immediately as we stepped into the Vavvoune studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn.