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 2012 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  
      2008    Art course with Mexican artist Roberto Cortazar
      2007    Art course with Mexican portrait artist Enrique Estrada
      2006    Iberoamericana University, Mexico City, Postgraduate Diploma in Abstract Art
      1995    Sinclair College, Dayton, OH, Postgraduate Diploma in  Multimedia 
      1994    Iberoamericana University, Mexico City, Postgraduate Diploma in Art
      1993    Anahuac del Sur University, Mexico City, Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design

      Solo exhibitions
      2019   Studio Show, Northbrook, IL (also 2015-2018)
      2014    Village Hall, Northbrook, IL

      Museum Exhibitions
      2012    8th Global Latino Fest, Museum of Broadcast Communications, Chicago, IL 

      Group Exhibitions
      2019     Art Comes Alive ACA show, ADC’s Gallery in the Sky, Cincinnati, OH
      2017    East on Central Water creative exchange, Highland Park, IL
                  Artist in residence Art exhibit, Northbrook Library, IL
                  Art in City Hall: The artwork of East on Central, Highland Park, IL
      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
      2019    Old Town Art Fair, Chicago IL
                  Armonk Art show, Armonk, NY
                  Port Clinton Art Festival, Highland Park, IL (also 2018, 2017, 2014, 2013)
                  The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, The Woodlands. TX
                  Art in the Square, South Lake TX
                  Bayou City Art festival, Houston, TX
                  Cottonwood Art Festival, Richardson, TX
                  Coconut Grove Art Festival, Coconut Grove, FL
                  Art Birmingham, Birmingham, MI 
                  Boston Mills Art Fest, Penninsula, OH
                   Lake view east Festival of arts, Chicago, IL  (also 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013) 
                  Las Olas Art Fair, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
                   Millennium Art Festival of arts, Chicago, IL (also 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013)
                   Ford Art, beats and eats, Royal Oak, MI (also 2018)
                  Palm Beach Medical Center Art Fest by the Sea, Juno Beach, FL (also in 2016)
      2018    Art fair on the square, Madison, WI
                  Uptown Art fair, Minneapolis, MN
                  Columbus Art festival, Columbus OH
                  East Lansing Art festival,  East Lansing, MI (also 2015)  
                  One of a Kind, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL (also 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014)
                  Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, IL (also 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) 
                  Edina Art Fair, Edina, MN (also 2017, 2016)
                  Peoria Art Guild, Peoria, IL
                  St. James Court, Louisville, KY
                  Third Ward Art Festival, Milwaukee, WI (also  2017)
                  One of a kind Spring Show, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL (also 2017)
      2017    The Chicago Art Show, Navy Pier, Chicago IL
                  Art Fest Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
                  Promenade of Art, Arlington Heights, IL (also in 2016, 2013)
                  Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair, Springfield, IL (also in 2016)
      2016    27th Downtown Delray Beach Festival of the arts, Delray Beach, FL
                  Art Fair at Laumeire Sculpture Park, Saint Louis, MO
                  Ann Arbor Summer Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI  
                  Art at the Glen, Glenview, IL (also 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012)
                  Art Fair on the Square, Lake Forest, IL (also 2015, 2014)
                  West Loop Art Festival, Chicago, IL (also 2015)             
                  Evanston Art Festival, Evanston, IL (also 2015)
      2015    Wells street art festival, Chicago, IL                                 
                  Oconomowoc festival of the arts, Oconomowoc, WI          
      2014    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
      2019     Best of Show, Millennium Art Festival, Chicago, IL 
                  Purchase Award, Art Comes Alive, Academy Awards, Cincinnati, OH 
      2018    Award of Excellence, Ford Art, Beats and Eats, Royal Oak, MI
                  Best of Category, Millennium Art Festival, Chicago, IL 
                  Outstanding Achievement, Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, IL  
      2017    Best of Show, ArtFest Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 
                  Best of Category, Gold Coast Art Fair, Chicago, IL  
                  Best of Category, Millennium Art Festival, Chicago, IL 
                  Purchase Award, Art Comes Alive, Academy Awards, Cincinnati, OH 
      2016    Best of Show, Promenade of Art, Arlington Heights, IL            
                  Best of Category, Art & Big Fork, Evanston, IL          
                  Outstanding Achievement, West Loop Art Show, Chicago, IL
                  Publishing Award, Art Comes Alive, Academy Awards, Cincinnati, OH       
      2015   Latina Trailblazer “Ladies that Lead” by Hispanic Pro, Cuvee, Chicago, IL

      2014    Outstanding achievement, Millennium Art Festival, Chicago, IL
      2013    Outstanding achievement, Glencoe Festival of Art, Glencoe, IL 
                  Outstanding achievement, Promenade of Art, Arlington Heights, IL
                  Outstanding achievement, Millennium Art Festival, Chicago, IL

      Publications 

      The North Shore Weekend Magazine, Lifestyle and Arts "Port Clinton Art Festival, Aug. 25, 2017

      Northbrook Patch Newspaper, "Lakeview east festival of the arts", Aug. 25, 2017

      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

      “East on Central,” Journal of Art, Highland Park, IL, 2017 (also in 2015-2012, 2010-2008) 

      "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

      Woman Art 278 Magazine, Feb. 2014
      “Culture on canvas”, The Northbrook Tower Newspaper, Cover story and Center spread, Life & Arts, Northbrook, IL, Sept. 2013
      Cover on “East on Central,” Journal of Art, Highland Park, IL, 2012
      “Las Guadalupanas”, Exhibition catalog, Scalenus Gallery, Mexico City, 2008