Karla Monterroza is a painter exploring the human condition through the tension between our search for meaning and the fragility of that pursuit. Her work meditates on disorientation and vulnerability when the familiar dissolves, confronting raw, unanswerable questions of existence. Rooted in existential philosophical inquiry, Karla draws from Nietzsche, Plato, and Aristotle to interrogate identity, freedom, and belonging in a fragmented world. Her figures inhabit liminal spaces—poised between connection and alienation, chaos and stability—mirroring the dualities of lived experience. Influenced by Francis Bacon's visceral intensity, Anselm Kiefer's layered narratives, and Ferdinand Hodler's symbolic harmony, her paintings merge deeply personal introspection with universal resonance. Through the human form, she reveals the invisible struggles that shape our existence. By weaving philosophy into visual narratives, Karla invites viewers to contemplate their own uncertainties and search for meaning in an ever-shifting world.

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Paintings are on display at Hera Gallery's exhibition "Aspire to Inspire", April 5-May 3.