Opening Reception – Tara Esperanza: Close to Home

Tara Esperanza, Mango-Sunset, 10”x10” on wood-panel, Photo courtesy of the artist

Whether painted in California or Oaxaca, the works in Close to Home begin with the same impulse: to slow down and look closely. Working on a more intimate scale than in her previous work, Tara Esperanza found herself drawn to quiet moments of observation, where familiar plants reveal unexpected beauty through color, form, and light. Created between two places that have become part of her life, these paintings are less about geography than about attention. Though rooted in different landscapes, each painting is shaped by the same curiosity and sense of wonder inspired by the resilience and sculptural elegance of plants.
For many years, succulents have been Esperanza’s way of exploring themes of adaptation, diversity, and endurance. Through this body of work, the smaller scale invites viewers to slow down, look closely, and discover that what is closest to us often has the most to reveal.

Bio:
Tara Esperanza resides in Oakland, California, where succulents thrive year-round. When she is not painting, she enjoys running and capturing images that later inspire her work. Esperanza earned a BFA in Painting, graduating cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, and studied plein air painting in Brittany, France. A representational painter inspired by nature, she has dedicated years to portraying the remarkable beauty and diversity of succulents. She has been a member of Mercury 20 Gallery in Oakland, CA, since 2020. Her work has been shown at the Women’s United Art Movement Virtual Gallery, as well as numerous group exhibitions. In 2025, Esperanza received Best of Show at the Annual National Juried Painting Exhibition at Emerald Springs Art Center in Oregon. Her paintings have been featured in Create! Magazine, New Visionary Magazine, and other publications, and are held in private collections throughout the United States.

Gallery Hours: Friday and Saturday, 12 – 5 pm (and by appointment)
Artist Talks: Saturday, October 10, 3 – 5 pm
Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday: October 2, 5 – 9 pm