Daily Inspiration: Meet Aida Alarcon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aida Alarcon.

Hi Aida, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have loved creating art for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was constantly drawing, writing stories, and sketching my favorite TV characters, which became one of my earliest creative outlets. As I got older, I began taking art more seriously in high school and eventually pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Digital Art. In 2018, I painted my first mural and quickly fell in love with creating artwork on a larger scale. Since then, I have consistently completed one to two large-scale canvas paintings or murals each year and am now approaching 20 completed murals. My work has allowed me to transform spaces, connect with communities, and bring stories to life through public art. As I continue growing as a visual artist and muralist, my goal is to expand into even larger walls and more ambitious projects!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. I’ve experienced seasons of doubt and uncertainty, especially right after graduating college in Spring 2021, which was such a unique and challenging time during the pandemic. The job market was incredibly difficult to navigate, and in many ways, it still can be. I applied to job after job and often wouldn’t hear anything back, which was discouraging. However, I would still receive mural inquiries here and there, and those opportunities always gave me hope and reminded me that I was moving in the right direction.

Along the way, I’ve also explored live event painting, which is something I’d love to continue pursuing alongside my mural work, with murals remaining my primary focus. During those harder seasons, I learned how important it was to slow down, journal, and spend time reflecting on my goals instead of putting so much pressure on myself. I also learned not to overthink reaching out for opportunities or asking other muralists for advice and support. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that people are often more willing to help than we realize. Confronting and working through my fear of rejection has ultimately helped me grow, both personally and professionally, and has given me the confidence to continue building a career that feels authentic to me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work primarily focuses on mural creation, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and creating artwork that transforms public spaces into places people can connect with and feel represented. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with local organizations, businesses, and communities to create murals that tell stories and bring people together. While community-centered murals are a large part of my practice, I would love to continue leaning further into my personal studio style, which is heavily inspired by portraiture, surrealism, and dreamlike landscapes. I enjoy creating work that feels imaginative, symbolic, and emotional. I believe what sets my work apart is my use of vibrant color palettes and visual storytelling that is directly inspired by my Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian heritage. It’s a unique combination of influences being connected to both islands and mountains, and I love incorporating elements from both cultures into my work. Those cultural influences naturally find their way into my color choices, patterns, symbolism, and the stories I choose to tell.

What I’m most proud of is creating a career that allows me to connect with people while staying true to my artistic voice. Whether I’m painting a mural alongside community members or developing a more personal piece in the studio, my goal is always to create artwork that feels meaningful.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice for finding a mentor is to get involved in local exhibitions, art markets, and apply to as many opportunities as you can. I’ve been able to connect with some of the most talented and genuine artists across Atlanta simply by putting myself out there and getting involved. As an artist, I believe community is incredibly important. I actually have my own mural mentor, Krista Jones (aka JONESY). Krista has taught me so much about taking mural projects to a larger scale, especially since she created “Synchronicity,” the largest underpass mural in the USA. I met Krista through EmpowerHER, a women-centered group exhibition featuring over 150 female artists.

During the artist talk, both seasoned and emerging artists had the opportunity to answer questions. One of the questions asked to the seasoned artists was, “In the public art space, how do you handle working in a male-dominated field?” Krista responded, “I make the men work for ME.” Everyone burst into laughter, and I instantly thought, “Oh, I HAVE to know her.” Shortly after, I sent her a DM and asked if I could buy her a coffee or pay for her time to have a mentoring session. That’s actually something I highly recommend if you’re reaching out to an artist and have a lot of questions, respect their time and offer something in return. Ever since then, we’ve become besties and she’s been such an important part of my growth as a muralist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @aidaalarconart

Image Credits
Living Walls ATL
Second Image (front portrait) Picture by Angel Parrilla and mural by Meredith Anne White