September 11 – October 17, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 12 | 3–5 PM
Artist Talk: Saturday, October 10 | 3–5 PM

Mercury 20 Gallery | 475 25th Street. Oakland, California

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.