Meet Karla Garcia

We recently connected with Karla Garcia and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Karla , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience is deeply rooted in my family. Raised by strong women like my mother and grandmother, I learned the invaluable power of education and hard work. When my parents divorced and financial struggles ensued, my mom bravely left for the United States to pursue a nursing degree. Although it was heartbreaking to be separated, we knew that education was an opportunity for a better future. When my mom finally brought us to the United States, I was determined to study art. However, the high cost of art supplies was a decision I had to make to choose a more practical path: communications and graphic design. For a decade, I worked as a designer, but the longing to create art never faded. With determination, I saved enough to pursue art in academia. Enrolling in graduate school to earn my Master’s in Studio Art with a focus on ceramics was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. This journey has been filled with challenges, but my family’s resilience has been my guiding light. This strength was about realizing my goals to be a professor and full-time artist believing and trusting in myself and my vision.

Now I create large-scale ceramic installations that have gained national attention in important publications like the Nasher Magazine and NPR: Morning Edition. I’ve been able to attend important residencies like the Corsicana Artist and Writer residency work with wonderful scholars, curators, and artists, and present my work to the international conference American Studies Association in Montreal, Canada alongside a wonderful panel. I’ve also exhibited with amazing international artists at the NCECA conference in 2023. I’m just honored to be able to contribute with my voice as an artist and expand on what my work is about such as the importance of our individual experiences through the metaphor of nature. My exhibitions have become experiential moments to think about what land means to each of us. The moments we spend in a specific place, how does that shape our philosophies? These questions help me put the concept of resilience in a physical realm through the representation of the flora I choose for my immersive installations.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As an artist, I focus on creating immersive ceramic sculptural installations. My process is research-heavy from its conceptual form to the techniques I want to use for a specific project. In my studio, I read about philosophy, research plant life, and find symbolic meanings that I can relate to. When we speak of resilience, we don’t see it physically, but we learn about it from listening to our stories. My sculptures of plants serve as physical metaphors showcasing their ability to endure adversity and emerge transformed with interesting shapes. I repeat the process, and that’s when making in multiples is a serene and meditative time for me.

Something interesting about my studio work is that when I have an idea about an installation, I sketch and prototype the idea, but I never get to see exactly what it will look like until I’m installing it in a gallery, museum, or outdoors. It’s a magical time for me when I have the time to play and be spontaneous with my decisions. The journey from the initial concept to the final installation is always a rollercoaster. But when I see the finished piece, I’m reminded of the countless hours of work, the challenges overcome, and the pure joy of bringing my vision to life.

One of my favorite moments was at the Cell Series at the Old Jail Art Center where I created the installation in 2023 entitled “When the Grass Stands Still,” a prairie landscape on the second floor of the museum. This installation was made with terra cotta grasses crafted individually and clustered on old bricks. The installation was a culmination of months of research and experimentation. Drawing inspiration from both the museum’s historical archives and the prairie outside, I created a space that felt both grounded in the past and connected to the present. Earlier this year, I created a ceramic landscape at 12.26 Gallery in Dallas that featured a sprawling prairie landscape and my signature cacti forms. I experimented with a nocturnal color palette, inspired by the hues of the Texas sky at night from my memories of the desert. The result was an immersive experience that transported viewers into a dreamlike, otherworldly landscape.

A short-term project is a new work for the Chateau Show in October this year where I’ll be installing a few pieces at the Aldredge House in East Dallas along with an incredible roster of artists. A longer-term project is a new installation for the Sandhills Institute Fellowship in Nebraska. I’m working in my studio researching and testing new ideas inspired by the geology and plant life in Nebraska, and can’t wait to see how this new work will materialize.

My work can be viewed on my website at www.karlamichellgarcia.com
gallery1226.com/karla-garcia
And on my Instagram account @karlagarciaart

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I think that the most important quality of my work was when I realized that the artists I was drawn to were using materiality to create symbolic meaning in their installations. Gabriel Orozco, Damian Ortega, Doris Salcedo, Eva Hesse, Antony Gormley, Francis Alyss, and others made an impact on my philosophy of art-making. I became fascinated by how my work could be immersive in different ways and how each space where my work is installed can add a new perspective.

For young artists starting out, I’d say the most important thing is to trust your vision. Don’t let anyone dim your light. Find mentors who believe in you and are willing to offer guidance and support. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have amazing mentors throughout my career. People I admire, who have become not just mentors but friends. Remember, every exhibition is an opportunity to learn and grow. Take what you learn back to the studio and apply it to your next project. It’s a constant process of improvement. And most importantly, surround yourself with people who believe in you and cheer you on. That trust and support can make all the difference.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The summer heat in Dallas can be brutal, especially in my converted garage studio. Without a proper AC unit, it’s like working in an oven, sometimes a sauna! I try to squeeze in a few hours of work before the temperatures are unbearable, but the heat can be draining. To stay productive, I’ve learned to adapt. I spend afternoons in my home, focusing on research, sketching, and grading my students’ work. While it’s not ideal, it helps me stay on track. I’m currently saving up for a new AC unit and other studio improvements so I can spend more time taking my research into making objects for installations.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karlamichellgarcia.com
• Instagram: @KarlaGarciaArt
• Facebook: karlagarciaart
• Linkedin: karlagarcia-art

Image Credits

Portrait credit: Melissa Gámez-Herrera
OJAC installation credit: Patrick Kelly
12.26 installations: Kevin Todora
Cactus individual sculptures courtesy of 12.26 Gallery