Roseanna beside an altar at ACTA's "Healing Through Our Traditions: Art & Community Altar for the Eaton Fire" event on June 8, 2025. Photo: Calethia DeConto
Rosanna Esparza Ahrens
Altarista
Rosanna Esparza Ahrens is a graphic artist, altarista (altar maker) and fashion designer. She was born, raised, still resides in East Los Angeles, CA. The daughter of altar maker and artist Ofelia Esparza, Rosanna has assisted her mother with altar-making since she was a child and, in the last fifteen years, they have collaborated on several large altar installations. In addition to being a boutique and art gallery owner, Rosanna runs a print brokerage along with her husband. She graduated from East Los Angeles College and went on to UCLA to study Geography and Environmental Studies, and has ambitions to return and complete a B.A. in Geography/Ethnic Studies.
Rosanna has been an Art Breaks In Teaching Artist since 2018. Her course, “Ofrendas: Visual Poetry” has been offered at multiple institutions including North Kern State Prison, California City Correctional Facility, Rosanna has also offered the course “Ofrendas: A Personal Journey” to folks post-release at the Amity Foundation.
In 2014, Rosanna collaborated with her mother and sister, Dr. Elena Esparza, in ACTA’s Building Healthy Communities Program in Boyle Heights where she worked with undocumented/uninsured residents at Ramona Gardens and Pico Aliso Housing Projects, creating personal wellness shrines. This project was instrumental in fostering and empowering wellness networks within an established community.
Rosanna joined ACTA as a member of the Apprentice Program in 2012.
