With my art, I continually seek fresh ways to capture the magic of energy through the motion of the human body. Through my work, I turn figures into fluid entities. I weave dance, air and water into my paintings to create an otherworldly likeness. I call it alchemy for the eyes. My goal is that when you look closely at one of my pieces, you will not only see ethereal images and feel their essential vitality, but also be moved to generate positive forces in your own life.
BIOGRAPHY
Karina Llergo was born and raised in Mexico City where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design as well as advanced degrees in Multimedia, Animation, and Abstract Art. She studied with famed Mexican artist Roberto Cortazar and portraitist Enrique Estrada, who both saw her talent and strongly encouraged her to continue her artistic journey.
While keeping art at the forefront of her mind and heart, Karina enjoyed a highly successful corporate career as art director for Mexico City’s top newspaper “Reforma” and at illustrious advertising agency, McCann Erickson. Among the many campaigns she helped create, some of her most memorable were for clients such as Coca-Cola, Revlon and Kimberly Clark.
Throughout her professional life, Karina painted and worked tirelessly to develop her unique style. As a lifelong dancer, competitive swimmer and enthusiastic skydiver, she found herself drawn to depicting on canvas the palpable energy of the human body in motion. Driven by these fascinations and armed with her talent for figurative painting , Karina found a way to translate her observations and creative imagination into thought-provoking paintings of breathtaking beauty.
Since moving to Chicago in 2007 and transitioning to art full time, Karina’s work has received high praise and she is greatly admired throughout the vibrant Chicagoland art world. Among her many accolades, Karina has received numerous Outstanding Achievement and Best In Show awards at distinguished art shows all over Chicagoland and exhibits in galleries throughout the United States.
Of Mexican, Armenian and Spanish descent, Karina’s diverse background influences her life in every way, as does her insatiable passion for the creative arts. When she is not painting, Karina relishes spending time with her husband and four children.
EDUCATION
2006 Iberoamericana Univerity, Mexico City, Postgraduate Diploma in Abstract Art
1995 Sinclair College, Dayton, OH, Postgraduate Diploma in Animation
1994 Iberoamericana University, Mexico City, Postgraduate Diploma in Multimedia
1993 Anahuac del Sur University, Mexico City, Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014 Village Hall, Northbrook, IL
2015 Studio Show, Northbrook, IL (also 2013, 2014)
MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
2012 8th Global Latino Fest, Museum of Broadcast Communications, Chicago, IL
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016 Art Comes Alive ACA show, ADC’s Gallery in the Sky, Cincinnati, OH
2015 12th annual Originals Juried Art Exhibit, Northbrook Library, IL
2014 11th annual Originals Juried Art Exhibit, Northbrook Library, IL
2013 Hispanic Heritage, Global Latino Fest, Germania Palace, Chicago IL,
2012 Life Dance, Gallery G, Glencoe, IL
Face to face, Boocoo Cultural Center, Evanston, IL
2008 Las Guadalupanas, Scalenus Gallery, Mexico City
Quatro, Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City
2007 Emartea VIII, Ataranzas Cultural Center, Veracruz, MX
Milleret, Colegio Asunción, Mexico City
2006 Woman in Art, Colegio de las Vizcainas, Mexico City
JURIED ART FAIR EXHIBITIONS
2016 27th Downtown Delray Beach Festival of the arts, Delray Beach, FL
Palm Beach Medical Center Art Fest by the Sea, Juno Beach, FL
Art Fair at Laumeire Sculpture Park, Saint Louis, MO
Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair, Springfield, IL
Edina Art Fair, Edina, MN
Promenade of Art, Arlington Heights, IL (also in 2013)
Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, IL (also in 2012, 2013, 2014)
Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI
Art at the Glen, Glenview, IL (also 2012, 2015)
Art Fair on the Square, Lake Forest, IL 9also 2014,2015)
West Loop Art Festival, Chicago, IL (also 2015)
Lake view east Festival of arts, Chicago, IL (also 2013, 2014, 2015)
Evanston Art Festival, Evanston, IL (also 2015)
One of a kind, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL (also 2014, 2015)
2015 Millennium Art Festival of arts, Chicago, IL (also in 2013, 2014)
Wells street art festival, Chicago, IL
East Lansing Art festival, East Lansing, MI
Oconomowoc festival of the arts, Oconomowoc, WI
2014 Port Clinton Art Festival, Highland Park, IL (also in 2013)
Northbrook at the Park, Northbrook, IL (also in 2013)
57th Street Art Fair, Chicago, IL
RAW- Riverside Art Weekend, Riverside, IL (also in 2013)
Elmhurst Art in the park, Elmhurst, IL
2013 Glencoe Festival of Art, Glencoe, IL
Art in your Eye, Batavia, IL
AWARDS
2016 Best of Show, Promenade of Art, Arlington Heights, IL
Best in Category, Art & Big Fork, Evanston, IL
Outstanding Achievement, West Loop Art Show, Chicago, IL
Publishing Award, Art Comes Alive, Academy Awards, Cincinnati, OH
2016 Latina Trailblazer “Ladies that Lead” by Hispanic Pro, Cuvee, Chicago, IL
2014 Outstanding achievement, Millenium Art Festival, Chicago, IL
2013 Outstanding achievement, Glencoe Festival of Art, Glencoe, IL
Outstanding achievement, Promenade of Art, Arlington Heights, IL
Outstanding achievement, Millenium Art Festival, Chicago, IL
1995 The award of excellence, The Society of Design, Reston, VA
Best Portafolio, The Society of Design, Reston, VA
Silver achievement, The Society of Design, Reston, VA
PUBLICATIONS
“The Color of life” Reflejos Newspaper, Cover story and Center, Chicago, IL , Sep. 18, 2016
“Latinas that Lead” Reflejos Newspaper, Center spread “The Color of life”, Chicago, IL, Sep. 11, 2016
'Karina Llergo Best Show award”, Chicago Tribune Newspaper, Chicago, IL, June 13, 2016
“A beautiful day to celebrate art”, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper, St. Louis, MO, May 2016
'Blink' art catalog, Art Design Consultants, 2015
'Archaeology for the Woman's Soul', poetry book, Corina Luna Dea, Chicago, IL , 2014
Woman Art 278 Magazine, Feb. 2014
“Culture on canvas”, The Northbrook Tower Newspaper, Cover story and Center spread, Life & Arts, Northbrook, IL, Sept. 2013
“East on Central,” Journal of Art, Highland Park, IL, 2014 (also in 2013, 2010-2008)
Cover on “East on Central,” Journal of Art, Highland Park, IL, 2012
“Las Guadalupanas”, Exhibition catalog, Scalenus Gallery, Mexico City, 2008
“The best of news paper design,” Society of newspaper design, Reston, VA, 1995
Karina Llergo joined Pixels.com Licensing on November 13th, 2011.
