The Artist Next Door: Charlo Opens First Solo Exhibition

When artists look to social media to promote their work, Nextdoor — a social networking service usually shared by neighbors seeking a pet sitter or discussing nearby construction — is probably not the first platform that comes to mind. But for Denver artist Carlos Garcia Walterbach, aka Charlo, it garnered some amazing opportunities.

Originally from Monterey, Mexico, Charlo moved to Orange County, California, in 2013 to pursue a career in graphic design. Digital and graphic design were not necessarily his passions, but he wanted to be able to make money and avoid the starving-artist persona.

He and his husband moved to Denver in 2019 so they could both pursue career opportunities, but as the pandemic hit in 2020, Charlo found himself drawn away from the graphic design world and…