Karla Wong: Journeys of Being is on view September 3. Wong’s oil paintings are a love letter to her Mexican culture. They are interwoven with her life experiences as a trans woman, a person of Mexican and Chinese heritage, and of the journeys between her homes in the United States and Oaxaca.  

Traditional Oaxacan clothing and landscapes integrated with subtle odes to Chicago landmarks are often included in Wong’s paintings. Symbolic elements are hidden throughout each painting: balloons representing the unborn, birds for male genitalia, and apples and pears for forbidden fruit. Her vivid, dreamlike compositions, which evoke Victorian and Surrealist styles, are interlaced with themes of life and death, self discovery, and gender identity, and frequent portal archway motifs lead to mysterious places. Wong’s work portrays the beauty and harsh realities of being true to oneself. 

“Karla Wong’s paintings are encoded with references to her life experiences as a Mexican immigrant and as a trans woman,” said Christina Stavros, exhibition curator and Intuit’s associate curator. “We’re excited to share this vibrant and important work with our community and hope it inspires reflection, connection and a deeper understanding of Wong’s experiences and perspective.” 

You’re invited to celebrate Karla Wong: Journeys of Being with the artist and the Intuit Art Museum community. 

Enjoy Mexican cocktails, bites, and a live performance by world-renowned singer and friend of the artist, Geo Meneses. After a toast to the artist, make your way to the exhibition to celebrate the work and the artist behind it. 

Museum admission and reception are free.

Reserve your ticket now

Image credit: Karla Wong (Mexican, b. 1974). The Catrina Comes to Chicago (La catrina llega Chicago), 2026. Oil on canvas, 48 x 36 in. Collection of the artist