ABOUT THE ARTIST
n Cascais, Portugal and g d family from Cape Verde, West Coast of Africa. Settling in Newark, NJ in 2002, she attended The Newark School of the Arts in 2008, where she met her mentor, Andrew Cohen, and further developed her interest in digital photography. Estrela’s photographs of nature and travel serve as an expression of self-healing, stillness, freedom, and a doorway to inner self. Estrela’s interest in collage began in 2018 in a workshop led by artist Mansa Mussa. Since then, collage/mixed media have become a key element in Estrela’s work. Her collages seek to reunite women with nature by placing them in landscapes surrounded by found objects, and re-contextualizing their power, emphasizing the correlation between the beauty of nature and all women. Estrela's current artistic focus is centered around her African roots. She hopes this work will inspire others to delve into their own family histories to bring about a stronger connection with self, culture, and custom.
Acrylic/collage/mixed-media 20" x 26"