About Aleyana¹
¹ aleyana /ah-lee-yah-nah/
Aleyana Momplaisir is a Brooklyn-based visual artist whose vibrant paintings and digital illustrations serve as tools for storytelling, reflection, and knowledge exchange. Her work covers a range of subjects, from lighthearted self-expression to deeper explorations of history, culture, health, and contemporary discourse. With an artistic style influenced by cartoons and anime, Momplaisir aims to highlight narratives that have shaped individual and collective identities in New York City and Afro-Caribbean diasporic communities, particularly the Haitian community. Overall, with Black people at the center of her work, Momplaisir hopes to inspire others to continue sharing their stories across generations and various art forms.
Momplaisir has exhibited at Arena Social DC and Haiti Cultural Exchange. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Arts in Political Science from Northeastern University, where one of her reproductive and environmental justice-centered illustrations is on display. Alongside this work, Momplaisir enjoys creating fan art and experimenting with new media and techniques, particularly nail art and graphic design.
Photo Details
Pattern by Uzo Njoku (@uzo.art)
Photo by Sunday Bamgbose (@shotsbyobam)
In My Words: Behind the Work ˙𖤓.꩜
I aim to spark meaningful community conversations and intergenerational knowledge sharing through art. Guided by the phrase “you hold a story,” I use traditional and digital media to translate personal and collective memories, such as family stories and cultural histories, into educational and storytelling experiences. My creative process blends lighthearted self-expression and explorations of culture, history, health, and current events to help people connect the past, engage with the present, and shape the future.
My focus on memory and connection stems from several important experiences. For instance, living in New York City, where change is constant, I see how new construction and certain businesses are warning signs of impending displacement. Additionally, on another occasion, my family and I cleaned out a relative’s home and found a treasure trove of photos, letters, passports, and other memorabilia dating back to the 1960s, documenting life in Haiti and New York City. These moments inspire me to listen closely, record stories, and explore the dynamics between past and present more deeply.
Although my formal practice is relatively new, I have been creating artwork for years. As a child captivated by animated series, I began my artistic journey with cartoon-style designs of mostly non-Black figures. I also engaged with online communities of fans who created art using digital software and ultimately felt moved to do the same. The influence of cartoons, anime, and the adoption of digital tools remains visible in my work—notably in my artistic style. However, portraying Black people has naturally become central to my visual storytelling and self-expression. Alongside digital tools, I use acrylic, graphite, and colored pencils to create vibrant pieces that invite introspection. While my selected work focuses on memory and culture, my creative work overall remains rooted in remembering; I continue to enjoy creating fan art and experimenting with new media, particularly nail art and graphic design, as I did during my childhood.