Tappo Arts – Philanthropic Design Project for Miami Cancer Institute

During Miami Art Week, Artefacto Miami launched Tappo Arts, a philanthropic project that invited 50 Miami-based artists and design icons to create custom renditions of the brand’s iconic Tappo stool. Among the selected creatives, Nayara Macedo was invited to participate with a unique design that merges art, emotional aesthetics, and social purpose.

The project culminated in a charity auction, with 100% of proceeds donated to the “Arts in Medicine” program at Miami Cancer Institute | Baptist Health South Florida—an initiative that brings healing through art experiences to cancer patients and caregivers.

Nayara’s custom Tappo featured a hand-painted composition in black, white, and green, blending organic forms with graphic symbolism, reflecting her poetic perspective and dedication to soulful design.

Entitled Tappo Carioca, my stool design draws inspiration from my roots and deep connection to Rio de Janeiro, my hometown. By choosing Rio as the theme of this piece, I revisited my own identity, heritage, and emotional landscape. This creation speaks of essence and belonging.

The color palette — black, white, and green — is rich in symbolism: black evokes strength and mystery, white represents light and spirituality, and green reflects the lush tropical nature that surrounds the city in leaves, mountains, and vitality. The design combines organic forms and graphic lines, echoing the visual poetry of Rio’s landscape, from its palm trees and waves to its iconic sidewalks.

The base of the stool, painted in white with black geometric patterns, is a tribute to the famous Copacabana boardwalk, while the top celebrates the vibrancy of nature and the artistic soul of the Carioca spirit.