About the artist
Carolina "KAKO" Villarreal is a Mexican-American painter whose work explores what it means to be alive. Based in El Paso, Texas, her art reflects the duality of life in the U.S.-Mexico border, where cultures, identities, and experiences intersect. Kako’s work is deeply rooted in “Humanhood”, a term she uses to describe the shared yet complex journey of the human condition. Drawing from her lived experience and community involvement, Kako paints about emotion, connection, and transformation. Her style, which she calls Psychedelic Emotionalism, blends vibrant full-spectrum color, line work, and layered gradients on Vibrant large scale canvases to create ethereal auras and emotional frequencies around her subjects. Often human faces and mystical, psychedelic animals. These beings exist in a carefully constructed space that mirrors both inner worlds and collective truths. “At the heart of my work is the gaze,” she says. “I’m fascinated by how eyes reveal unspoken emotion, and how that emotional hierarchy speaks louder than words.” This subtle yet powerful focus becomes a portal into the soul of each painting, inviting the viewer to pause, reflect, and feel. Kako’s practice is a deeply personal narrative woven with broader themes of power, empathy, spirituality, and the search for meaning. She refers to her paintings as mirrors reflecting the hard yet beautiful truths of existence, and guiding the viewer through a dance of change, acceptance, and self-awareness. Whether exhibiting in local shows, fashion events, or community markets in El Paso, Kako remains committed to sharing her art in ways that are accessible, engaging, and rooted in her cultural heritage. Her work transcends the canvas, offering a transformative experience that connects artist and audience through the universal language of feeling. Her artworks have been exhibited in and outside of El Paso like The El Paso Museum of Art, The Rubin Center for the Visual Arts UTEP, Hal Marcus Gallery and Flor de Barro Gallery in Mexico City.
“View with your Soul”- KAKO
Medium
She uses oils and acrylics.
Inspiration
Kako's creative process derives from her perception and connection to the external world. Derived from her processes of connectivity with animals, nature, and her current reality.
