Jia Estrella fashions furniture pieces into art

Jia Santos Estrella was just a high school student at Assumption when her aunt, Senator Cynthia Villar, would ask her to decorate their corporate buildings for the holiday season. Eventually earning an interior design degree from the same school, Jia’s first job was as furniture designer doubling as a showroom stylist at Habitat.

In 1993, Jia joined Rustan’s and climbed the corporate ladder as she became assistant vice president/buying director for the Fashion & Luxury Division under her mentor Maritess Tantoco. She was in charge of  the store’s prestigious brands that included Ferragamo, Fendi, Christian Laboutin, Tiffany & Co.  etc.   It was also because of  Rustan’s that she met her husband Gabby Estrella who was then the general manager of the Tantocos’ International Duty Free Stores in Morocco.   

But after 16 years in the retail business, Jia decided to retire to spend time with her growing family and this was when her passion for the arts was reignited.  She took up advanced art, sculpture and pottery classes  under Jose Santos III, Edwin Leano, Pablo Capati and Sal Alonday that turned her into an art collector and, finally, as an artist who has had three recent sold-out shows.

Jia’s artwork is unique because she uses furniture pieces as her canvas — chairs, tables, cabinets and other items that are transformed into beautiful objets d’art.  I cannot help but marvel at how lovely these everyday items turn out with her imaginative touch and cannot wait to see what she has in store for her next show.  Next month, as she prepares for the launch of  her contemporary art studio, Jstudio,  as well as two major art exhibits in 2014, the busy Jia explains, “My type of functional art is a seamless incorporation of art, fashion and design where rejected furnishings are reworked and resurrected into one-of-a-kind creations. My inspiration comes from family adventures, travel and exotic destinations and unforgettable collections by prominent fashion  houses.” 

Jia Estrella can be contacted at jiaestrella@yahoo.com.

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Ooops...

Due to a printing glitch, last Oct. 16, the photo of Ito Curata, Mia Borromeo, the author and Bob Miller was used twice, but the other one was wrongly identified. Above is the photo, which should have been used, with the correct caption.

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For comments and ideas, please e-mail the author at: jacinto.fa@gmail.com.