About me

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.

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 

Featured at ABC Chicago News, ArtFest Michigan Avenue, July 22, 2017

"To Chicago my Muse" Beauty Atlas Magazine, Volume II, July 2017

Musician BlauDiss "Pour Down" EP Cover, 2017

TV interview for WGN TV Chicago news, April 10, 2017

"Blink" art catalog, Back Cover, ADC Art Design Consultants, 2017

"The Art of Books", The North Shore Weekend Newspaper, Cover story and Center, North Shore Chicago, IL, March 11, 2017

"Female Artist you should know", National Museum of Women in the Arts and iCanvas campaign, March, 2017

Radio interview at "Vive La Noche", Radio Vive TV, Chicago radio, Oct. 12, 2016

“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, 2016

"Archaeology for the Woman's Soul", poetry book, Corina Luna Dea, Chicago, IL , 2014