Spotlight on Two Local Artists at Mission Fed ArtWalk
As thousands prepare to gather in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood for this weekend’s Mission Fed ArtWalk, two local artists are making waves as featured exhibitors at the long-running festival. This two-day event is recognized as the largest and longest-running fine art showcase in Southern California, drawing over 250 artists across various mediums. However, only eight were selected as featured artists for 2026, making their participation a significant achievement.
Karla Preciado, an acrylic painter from Chula Vista, expressed her surprise and excitement upon being chosen. “It’s such an honor. I’m so thrilled,” she shared. “There are over 250 artists participating this year, so I’m delighted.” Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Preciado has been painting for nearly two decades and is showcasing her work at the Little Italy event for the first time after previously exhibiting at other ArtWalk festivals in Carlsbad and Liberty Station. She was drawn to the event due to its reputation. “It’s a prominent show,” she said. “A lot of people show up. Everybody raves about Little Italy, and I want to see what it’s all about.”
Preciado’s artistic journey began when she moved to Spain nearly 20 years ago, seeking a creative outlet. During that time, she enrolled in community oil painting classes while her husband served in the military. “I just fell in love with the feeling of creating something and making something out of nothing,” she explained. Now working primarily in acrylics, she describes her style as expressive, creating abstract landscapes inspired by nature. “I’m an abstract nature painter — or I like to say a nurture painter — because that’s the way the landscape and the outdoors make me feel,” she said. “It gives me a nurturing sense of freedom and joy and calm and love.”
Visitors to her booth on Cedar Street can expect “lots of color” and “a little bit of everything,” from tranquil pieces to energetic ones.
Another featured artist, ceramicist Jeffrey Siegal, described the recognition as a reflection of his decades of dedication to his craft. “It’s a really good feeling. I feel very proud of myself for all of my hard work,” he said. “There’s a lot of excellent artists out there.” At 70, Siegal discovered ceramics as a teenager when he signed up for a class in high school. “I just got so enamored and inspired and enthralled with the touch of the clay,” he recalled. “I fell in love with it from that day.”
Now a veteran of art shows for nearly a decade, Siegal is participating in Mission Fed ArtWalk for the third time. He praised the event’s scale and organization. “It’s really well organized,” he said. “There’s a lot of real high-quality artwork that is at the show, so that really makes it a nice show.”
Inspired by the natural world, Siegal incorporates organic materials such as coral, wood, and other found elements into his ceramic pieces. “I’m really inspired by things that are found in nature, from the ocean, the desert, the mountains,” he said. “So I get my inspiration from all different kinds of places.” He also uses a distinctive horsehair firing method, applying strands to heated pottery to create permanent, smoky patterns. “My process is very unique,” said Siegal, whose booth will be on India Street near Beech Street. “People like to know about the process while they’re looking at the work.”
Mission Fed ArtWalk, held along India Street in Little Italy, runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. In addition to Preciado and Siegal, this year’s featured artists include mixed media artist Adolfo Girala, glass artist Samson Low, ceramic artist Monica Prado, and painters Dave Fox, Jennifer Peart, and Sangeetha Gopalakrishnan. Organizers noted that the event attracts about 100,000 art collectors and visitors from across the country.
