Hear from the Artist: Karlisima Rodas-Israel

For over three decades, The Phillips Collection has honored the artistic talents of its staff through the annual James McLaughlin Memorial Staff Show. This beloved tradition showcases the creative work of museum employees across departments. As part of the exhibition, the “Hear from the Artist” series invites participating artists to lead 15-minute tours of their work, offering visitors personal insights and behind-the-scenes perspectives into their creative process.

About Karlisima Rodas-Israel

Karlisima Rodas-Israel is a DC-based artist and muralist celebrated for her vibrant oil paintings and public art, including the iconic Mama Ayesha’s Restaurant Presidential Mural in Adams Morgan. Born in San Salvador in 1970, she immigrated to the USA at 14 and earned a BFA in painting from Washington University in St. Louis in 1992.

Her work is inspired by her Mayan heritage, French Impressionism, sacred stained-glass windows, and the bold colors of Latin America. Through short, expressive brushstrokes and mosaic-like patterns, she explores themes of prayer and the sacredness of Mother Earth. Rooted in her childhood in Sonsonate—a lush region of El Salvador—her art reflects a profound spiritual belief that we are one with the Land.

IMAGE: Karlisima Rodas-Israel, Reaching Out Towards Heaven, 2025, Acrylic underpainting, oil on canvas