Today we’d like to introduce you to Tesha Davilmar.
Tesha, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey as an artist began somewhat unexpectedly. I have always been drawn to creativity, but my professional path initially centered around medicine, public health, and community work. While pursuing that path, I continued making art as a way to explore my own experiences, identity, relationships, and connection to my Haitian heritage.
Over time, painting became more than a personal creative outlet. I began experimenting with acrylic portraiture, Haitian crafting traditions such as sequins and beadwork, found materials, and eventually meditation and sound. My work has grown into a multimedia practice focused on connection—between people, family, culture, spirituality, memory, and the natural world.
Living in Baltimore has also deeply shaped my practice. The city’s creative communities, particularly its Black and Haitian communities, have given me spaces to connect, create, and think about how art can bring people together. Through Cha Studios, I’ve begun developing workshops and community-based experiences that combine crafting, reflection, and creative expression.
Today, I’m continuing to grow as a self-taught artist while building a practice that bridges visual art, cultural traditions, and immersive experiences. I’m interested in creating work that invites people to slow down, connect more deeply, and experience art beyond simply looking at it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Moving from Florida to Baltimore on my own, without family nearby, was a major transition. At the same time, the demands of medical school were intense, and I often felt the pressure of balancing a very rigorous academic and professional path with finding space for myself.
Painting became an important outlet during that time. It gave me a way to process my experiences, decompress, and engage a completely different part of my brain than I was using in medicine. It reminded me that I was more than just my academic and professional responsibilities.
One of my biggest challenges was also finding a sense of belonging in a new city. Over time, I found my way into Baltimore’s Black creative scene, which gave me opportunities to meet other artists, build meaningful relationships, and feel more connected to the city. Those relationships ultimately helped me grow not only as an artist, but also as a person.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Haitian-American multimedia artist based in Baltimore, working primarily in acrylic painting, portraiture, beadwork, sequins, and mixed media. My work explores connection—to culture, spirituality, ancestry, and one another.
A central part of my practice is exploring the intersection of art and therapeutic practices. With a background in psychiatry, I’m deeply interested in how creativity, sensory experiences, reflection, and intentional environments can support emotional well-being and create opportunities for connection. I want to create experiences that go beyond simply looking at an artwork and instead invite people to slow down, engage their senses, reflect, and participate.
I incorporate Haitian craft traditions, photographs, and tactile materials into my work, and I’m increasingly exploring sound, meditation, and other sensory practices as artistic mediums. I’m interested in how these elements can transform art from something we simply observe into something we experience on a deeper level.
I’m most proud of building an artistic practice alongside a demanding career in medicine and finding ways for these two worlds to inform one another. What sets my work apart is this intersection of Haitian identity, medicine, spirituality, and creativity. Ultimately, I want my work to create opportunities for people to feel connected, grounded, represented, and open to reflection.
Any big plans?
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue growing my artistic practice and creating more opportunities for people to engage with art in meaningful and participatory ways. One of my next steps is an upcoming workshop on October 10, 2026, from 2–4 PM, where I’ll be teaching folks about Haitian beadwork techniques and the beautiful history behind the crafting practice.
I’m also looking forward to continuing to develop Cha Studios, expanding my use of mixed media and sensory elements, and exploring the intersection of artistic and therapeutic practices. Long term, I hope to create immersive exhibitions and workshops that use art and sensory experiences to foster emotional well-being.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chastudios.net
- Instagram: teshadavii
