Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Karla's interest in art was developed through mentorship by the late Virginia Carnes of the Westminster Schools. With Professor Carnes' support, she studied figure drawing in New York City her junior summer of high school; however, instead of pursuing a career in the fine arts, Karla opted for a full scholarship at Emory University. There, she studied International Relations, French, and Political Science. After graduating in 2000, she moved to Boston for a role at EF Education, managing sales, marketing, and operations for several of EF's travel and language programs. In 2004, she moved overseas and lived between France, Singapore, and Oxford as part of her role at INSEAD, the leading international business school (and as a“trailing spouse” given her husband's profession. She returned to Boston in 2007 to pursue a graduate degree in Museum Studies and finished all coursework when an opportunity to oversee Marketing and Recruiting for INSEAD's Asia Pacific markets before taking on a leading role with the PhD Programs under former INSEAD Dean Ilian Mihov. In 2012, she moved with her husband and son to Boston, and welcomed her daughter a few months later, working for Harvard Business School through 2016 and Fortuna Admissions which she still supports today. While pursuing her career in higher education, her art was exhibited in galleries across Singapore, France, Hong Kong and she sold dozens of paintings to global executives and collectors.
In Boston, parenting and higher education were her focus; she joined the Doctoral Programs Office and the MBA Interview Board at Harvard Business School. As Associate Director, she oversaw admissions, marketing, and student services for the DBA and joint degree programs with the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Ultimately, she completed all coursework for the Master's in Museum Studies from Harvard University (ABT). In 2016, she took the leap to entrepreneurship began consulting, opened an art Gallery in Belmont (closed in 2018), and supported higher ed searches for Deans, Presidents and Provosts across the US alongside a mentor, Anne Coyle.
While ever passionate about art, creating and developing her style was relegated to her "off months" from consulting, giving her two months to build a body of work. With group exhibitions at Boston's Statehouse, the Menino Gallery in Hyde Park, and the Mosesian Center in Watertown. She has also been selected for juried exhibitions in galleries across the US including the RW Norton Gallery and Museum and the Longwood Museum of Fine Arts. At Harvard Business School several pieces of her artwork are in the collection of Executive Dean Angela Crispi, Professors David Scharfstein, Robin Greenwood, and Dean Luis Viceira. Most recently, her work is to be featured in Vogue's UK June Gallery section, boutique galleries in New York City as well as upcoming shows in Paris and London.
Karla's early work concentrated on acrylics on figurative representations on using acrylic on canvas and drawing with ink, charcoal, and colored pencil (or a combination of these as mixed media), but she has recently focused on photography and film as new mediums of expression. She has also experimented with Ai models trained on her work to expand her range using technology, coding, and digital media. Subject matter ranges from portraits to landscapes to semi-figurative to purely abstract. The most prominent and influential forces in are inspiring individuals like Alexandre Daillance (a.k.a. MILLINSKY) @millinsky and technologist and Ai innovator, and Multi-On founder, Omar Shaya, @omarshaya. Both have encouraged Karla to take leaps otherwise not considered.
Additionally, Heidi Heilman, who is equal parts community leader and force of nature, is overseeing efforts with art galleries, museums, and other dedicated spaces for the arts in Boston and beyond. As time and space grows for art to take on a more focal role in her career, works for sale and print will be shared via this website, the Saatchi Gallery in London, and Artsy. She is also in the process of applying for art residencies in Europe and to foundations supporting women in the arts.
Almost all of the work seen here is for sale; either as an original piece or print. Originals start at $500 and prints at $50 USD.
2 Commision
Part of my favorite type of work is creating art for others and helping to bring to life ideas, memories, moments and translating them into images that connect to or with others. Commissions start at $1200 for paintings assuming a size 18" x 24" or larger (which is my preference). Sketches can be commissioned starting at $280 at 9 x 12" inches. Large scale pieces up to 10' start at $2000 USD. Payment plans and monthly financing are easy to structure -- most of my art can fit a reasonable budget, and the more I can put out in the world, the happier I am. Do not hesitate to ask!
3 Special Projects
Institutional projects are also a priority. I would be eager to collaborate on efforts to bring art to public spaces in the form of murals (for walls, playgrounds, highway underpasses, etc.). I have also painted furniture for auction in support of charities.
4 Collaborations
As I develop my style I am also interested in digital work, photography, blending and hybrid artwork. If interested in a collaborative effort, please email or text me to see if there is a fit and/or opportunity to work together to bring more art into the world together.