Karla Alfaro

Karla Alfaro (b. 1984) is a lifelong Richmond resident who joined NIAD in 2022.  As a mixed-media artist with a passion for drawing, Alfaro creates bold and atmospheric images that beckon for us to step inside. Many of these scenes transport us to lush gardens with ripe cherries, swaying trees, sun-kissed houses, and colorful figures. Every drawing distills a world that is both familiar and dreamlike, brought to life by Alfaro’s rich palette and distinctive textures. She works continuously on one piece at a time, building up thick layers with colored pencil, paint, crayons, pens, and oil pastels. 

Karla Alfaro’s work has been featured in Bay Area exhibitions, including Rooted in Richmond in Mayor Eduardo Martinez’s Richmond office, and Now Presenting: New Artists of NIAD in the NIAD Annex Gallery.