Karla Quinonez
b. 1998, Guatemala ∙ CE artist since 2022
The short-haired Karla Esmeralda Fernandez Quinonez hails from San Mauricio, Guatemala, and came to the United States in high school. She works across a range of media, including paint, clay, color pencils, and marker. Karla has a particular affinity for drawing, as well as collage, which she learned how to create while in school in Guatemala: collages are like puzzles to her, she says.
She describes herself as “pequeñita” (tiny), friendly, and “chistosa” (funny). Indeed, in the studio, she is very talkative and likes to make jokes, though her "class clown" demeanor belies a sensitivity and shyness. When making art, she thinks about her friends and her support system, which are extremely important to her, and she creates “para ir aprendiendo más cosas, siempre practicar más cosas," which translates to “to learn more things, always practice more things.” In the future, Karla is excited to sell more artwork and try out digital art. When she's not in the studio, you can find her playing soccer or walking her beloved dogs.