Karla Gabriela De La Fuente: America’s Favorite

From Texas A&M University-Kingsville:

“Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s Ben Bailey Art Gallery proudly presents “America’s Favorite,” a solo exhibition by artist Karla Gabriela De La Fuente. The exhibition will be on view from February 5 to March 31, 2025, showcasing a captivating body of work that bridges personal narrative, cultural heritage, and socio-economic commentary. An Artist Talk will be held at the Little Theater on Wednesday, February 26th, from 3 to 4 p.m., followed by an Artist Reception at the Ben Bailey Art Gallery from 4 to 6 p.m.

Karla Gabriela De La Fuente (@dlf.studio) holds an MFA from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) and grew up in Palmview, Texas. Her upbringing as the youngest daughter in a single-parent household shaped her perspective on resilience, education, and community.  Accompanying her mother to work in laundromats and Winter-Texan trailer parks, she was introduced to art through landscape paintings and National Geographic magazines, which sparked her early fascination with visual storytelling.

De La Fuente’s artistic philosophy, emphasizes material exploration, guided by the philosophy of “Todo Hecho a Mano” (Everything Made by Hand). She creates handmade paper colored with natural and synthetic dyes, incorporating elements from her local environment. This approach allows her to craft artworks rich in layers of meaning that bridge personal narrative, cultural heritage, and broader social themes.

The exhibition “America’s Favorite” draws from her experiences in the borderlands, challenging socio-economic boundaries and exploring the disconnect between labor, consumerism, and identity. Constructed entirely from repurposed materials—from decades-old lumber to regional organic matter—the series embodies Rasquachismo, merging resourcefulness with a critical examination of Americana.

Pieces like “American Dream IV”—made from handmade paper, rainwater, reclaimed produce packaging, thorns, and wood—demonstrate her ability to connect art with the human experience.

Through her art-making approach, De La Fuente redefines traditional narratives, giving new life to discarded materials and presenting social commentary that addresses cultural representation, gender roles, and working-class dynamics. She connects art with history, culture, and the human experience through meticulous craftsmanship and an intuitive exploration of materiality. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this powerful exhibition.

Karla Gabriela De La Fuente, “American Dream IV,” handmade paper, rainwater, reclaimed produce packaging, thorns, and reclaimed wood.”