Carla Contreras is an Ecuadorian-American cross-disciplinary visual artist and educator based in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Master’s degree in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design and is known for a practice that moves fluidly across public art, immersive installation, fine arts, and concept design. Informed by her Ecuadorian heritage and a deep connection to natural ecosystems, Contreras’ work explores themes of ecology, belonging, and collective experience. Contreras was the first artist-in-residence at Norfolk Southern Corp in Atlanta (2022–2024), and her work has been commissioned for public spaces in Atlanta and internationally, including Lacoste, France. Recent projects include a large-scale mural at the North Ave. MARTA Plaza in Midtown Atlanta and a vibrant basketball court mural at Mozley Park, commissioned by SCAD SERVE. The Mozley Park project received a Community Design Award from the City of Atlanta’s Department of City Planning. Working across new technologies, large-scale murals, steel sculpture, immersive and sensory installations, fine art painting, textiles, and spatial concept design, Contreras’ practice intentionally moves between disciplines. Her recent body of work expands into tapestry, soft sculpture, and immersive textile environments inspired by rainforest ecosystems. By merging traditional craft with emerging technologies, such as 3D printing, she reflects on interconnected systems in nature and society, creating spaces that invite pause, interaction, and communal connection.
Carla Contreras
Carla Contreras is an Ecuadorian-American cross-disciplinary visual artist and educator based in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds a Master’s degree in Painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design and is known for a practice that moves fluidly across public art, immersive installation, fine arts, and concept design. Informed by her Ecuadorian heritage and a deep connection to natural ecosystems, Contreras’ work explores themes of ecology, belonging, and collective experience. Contreras was the first artist-in-residence at Norfolk Southern Corp in Atlanta (2022–2024), and her work has been commissioned for public spaces in Atlanta and internationally, including Lacoste, France. Recent projects include a large-scale mural at the North Ave. MARTA Plaza in Midtown Atlanta and a vibrant basketball court mural at Mozley Park, commissioned by SCAD SERVE. The Mozley Park project received a Community Design Award from the City of Atlanta’s Department of City Planning. Working across new technologies, large-scale murals, steel sculpture, immersive and sensory installations, fine art painting, textiles, and spatial concept design, Contreras’ practice intentionally moves between disciplines. Her recent body of work expands into tapestry, soft sculpture, and immersive textile environments inspired by rainforest ecosystems. By merging traditional craft with emerging technologies, such as 3D printing, she reflects on interconnected systems in nature and society, creating spaces that invite pause, interaction, and communal connection.