Karla Diaz: Mal de Ojo

Luis De Jesus Los Angeles is pleased to announce Karla Diaz: Mal de Ojo (Evil Eye), a series of vibrant self-portraits, on view in Gallery 3 from September 13 to October 25, 2025. An opening reception will be held Saturday, September 13, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Karla Diaz: Mal de Ojo presents a series of self-portraits that delve into the many facets of her identity, from familial bonds and cultural heritage to her alter egos, and with them, her fears, hopes, and dreams. Employing watercolor on paper and acrylic on canvas, the artist transforms the genre of self-portraiture into a powerful space of storytelling and collective memory—an invitation to see identity as both deeply individual and inherently shared.

Known for her kaleidoscopic storytelling and richly layered compositions that blend Mexican and American vernacular and pop cultural influences, Diaz continues to expand her exploration of the complexities of identity. The exhibition’s title, Mal de Ojo (Evil Eye), references a cross-cultural superstition of a malicious gaze believed to bring harm or misfortune. Diaz reinterprets this folklore as a need for both self and communal protection. Through surreal, dreamlike imagery and a vibrant color palette, she reflects on the power of vulnerability, introspection, and the shared strength of community. 

Diaz’s self-portraits depict more than just herself or state of being; her choices of color, clothing, objects, and backgrounds chronicle a collective unconscious shaped by cultural iconography, humor, superstition, familial traditions, current affairs, and a myriad of dynamics that shape Latinx experiences. While evoking cheerfulness and joy with vivid washes of color, Diaz also invites deeper reflection. Her work challenges viewers to consider how we see ourselves, how we see one another, and the delicate lines connecting the personal, social, and political.

Karla Diaz (b. 1976, Los Angeles) lives and works in Los Angeles. She received her MFA from the California Institute of the Arts in 2003 and a BA from California State University, Los Angeles in 1999. Diaz is a co-founder, alongside Mario Ybarra Jr., of the collective and community artist space Slanguage in Wilmington, CA. Diaz’s works (including Slanguage) have been exhibited nationally and internationally at the 18th Street Art Center, Santa Monica, CA; the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, CA; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA; Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, LAXART, Hollywood, CA; Pitzer College, Claremont, CA; California State University Los Angeles, CA; San Jose Museum of Art, CA; Institute for Contemporary Art, Boston, MA; Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, IL; Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, MI; the Serpentine Gallery, London, U.K.; and Museo Casa de Cervantes, Madrid, Spain. Her work is in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA; Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, CA; Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX; Perez Art Museum, Miami, FL; and Inhotim Museum, Brumadinho, Brazil. She has received numerous grants and awards including those from The Latinx Project, New York, NY; Art Matters, New York, NY; Tiffany Foundation, New York, NY; City of Los Angeles, CA; Riverside Art Museum, CA; and CalArts, Los Angeles, CA.