Working with Mexican folklore-inspired imagery, Los Angeles-based artist Sylvia Ji‘s portraits have an intimate quality that give the sensation of encountering a ritual space. Her upcoming solo show at CHG Circa, “La Catrina,” takes its inspiration from La Calavera Catrina, a deity of Mexico’s Day of the Dead. Ji transforms this haunting figure into an introspective woman in a state of meditation. Painted in rich red hues with gold and bronze leaf, the new works in the show take inspiration from Mexican textiles and other crafts. Take a sneak peek at some of the paintings in progress, images courtesy of Sylvia Ji.