Studio Artist
Darla Barolini is a Houston-based figurative painter and educator whose work centers on people, human connection, and subtle expressions. Drawn to the human form, and especially the face, she often paints people she meets and knows, combining observation with imagination to create portraits and scenes that reflect presence, memory, and the complexity of human interaction. Her recent work explores contemporary classroom environments inspired by her experiences as an educator.
Barolini earned her Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the New York Academy of Art in 2017. She is currently a visual artist, full-time faculty member, and gallery coordinator at Houston City College. She has exhibited work throughout Texas and New York and was recently featured in the New American Painting West and the Emerging Female Artists publications.
Images from left: Photo of Darla Barolini courtesy of the artist; Teacher’s Perspective, 2024, Acrylic on canvas, 72 x 45 x 2”; Crush, 2025, Acrylic on canvas, 96 x 50 x 1”; Desk Installation, 2024–2025, Marker on desks; Polished, 2025, Acrylic on canvas, 72 x 45 x 2”