Meet Isabelle De Joya Vea | Multi-disciplinary Artist and Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Isabelle De Joya Vea and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Isabelle, what do you attribute your success to?

Being honest and true to my passion for art has been such a big factor and driving force in being IDJV. It’s been a few years since I’ve been a full-time artist, and I always make sure that I am true to myself and true to the art and jewelry that I create. Many times I hear people tell me “your art makes me so happy” or “there’s no way to be sad with your art. It always so bright.” My art is a reflection of myself and I make it a point to never create when I am sad. I always say that IDJV is fearlessly colorful and I think that always keeping that in mind reflect the genuineness in my brand that people can’t help but notice.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an immigrant and Filipino-American artist, my work is a reflection of my experiences, travel, and adaptation of two cultures for over two decades. Having lived in the Philippines during my early childhood, I tie in my life in the tropics with my current life in Louisiana in my work. The fearlessly colorful abstract nature of my pieces allows me to convey and capture both the warm and happy Filipino spirit and the bold and vibrant culture of Louisiana.

I was born in Manila, Philippines to an academic and creative family. Growing up, my parents instilled in me a love of culture and art by allowing me to experience them firsthand by traveling to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In 2005 my family settled in New Orleans just one month before Hurricane Katrina struck the city. I received my BS in Psychology from LSU in 2016 and went on to get an MS in Biology the following year. While in graduate school, I had the opportunity to train as a sushi chef and subsequently work as one at a local restaurant. Following graduation, I worked for several years in the emergency department up until the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

While I was working in the hospital, IDJV was a way for me to unwind and express my experiences through art. I always had a love for creating and have experimented with various media throughout the years including painting, jewelry, and ceramics. It was during the early phase of the lockdown that I decided to pursue my work at IDJV Art and Jewelry full-time. IDJV stands for my name, Isabelle De Joya Vea, which makes a sentence. “Isa” means “one” in Tagalog. “Belle” is “beautiful” in French. “De Joya” means “of jewel” in Spanish, and my last name “Vea” is from the Spanish word “ver” which means “to see”. If you put it all together you can make the sentence “a beautiful jewel to see”. This is a core aspect in my art and jewelry that sets it apart. I bring together an eclectic array of textures, techniques, and materials in each piece that I produce. I often feature Louisiana or Philippine flora in my pieces with an added multi-dimensional aspect that allows the viewer to lean in closer and explore the terrain of the artwork’s surface. Each IDJV piece of art is guided by an innate emotion of joyous vibrancy and with the concept that life is about blooming where you are planted. By layering bold and contrasting colors step by step, it allows me to build a foundation for playful connections between different textures.

My jewelry has evolved over the years. My mom had taught me to make beaded jewelry when I was in the third grade, and I always created jewelry throughout the years. Working as a sushi chef inspired me to create Asian food-inspired jewelry that people truly love. I always make it a point to create earrings of food that I actually eat. Since I use poly clay in my foodie earrings, sometimes making sushi earrings is almost like making sushi in real life. Since moving back to the New Orleans area, I have also incorporated very NOLA-centric designs. One of the fan-favorite IDJV designs is my New Orleans Shotgun House earrings. These are truly a work of love and are the pairs that take me the longest to create. Each one is hand cut and textured to give it a unique character just like how the city is. In more recent years, I have started to incorporate laser-cutting techniques into my jewelry which has allowed me to transform my sketches into wearable art.

I have been so thankful to be able to pursue being a full-time artist for the past few years. I am constantly building different elements to IDJV Art and Jewelry while delivering dopamine-inducing pieces. I am grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the wonderful people who have come to see my work. Getting to where IDJV is now wasn’t easy, but I have learned a lot throughout the years from fellow creatives and every market I have been at. Each person I encounter is a gift and inspiration to what lies ahead. Having someone connect with my art is truly what makes my work enriching. By making these pieces I want people to feel the culture, warm spirit, and happiness and remind them to have a fearlessly colorful life.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
While I split my time between Northwest Louisiana and South Louisiana, I spend most of my time in the New Orleans area where I am mainly based. I always love it when my friends come to visit me.

For a weeklong trip, I usually start it off with more places that locals would go to as opposed to touristy areas. I will definitely start it off with a croissant or bread pudding La Boulangerie on Magazine Street then stroll along all the local shops, including my favorite local gift shop Home Malone. Lunch will most likely be at my current obsession Pomelo (they serve the best Thai Khao Soi Noodles in town!) or Banh Mi Boys. Since it’s summer, we’re definitely cooling off with some amazing ice cream from Creole Creamery on Prytania. and with all that walking it’ll be just in time for happy hour and amazing paella at Costera just a few doors down.

I do love a quick trip to the French Quarter for some beignets or dining at a quintessential New Orleans restaurant. I love the daytime walking tours, but I have to say one of my favorite tours is the night ghost tour. I myself am not so superstitious, but I always love hearing the history stories that come with the tour (like the LaLaurie Mansion). Seeing the French Quarter up close makes for great photographs, but I personally like making a little trip over the river to Algiers Point to get a panoramic view of the city. Plus it’s a peaceful sight seeing the steamboat float across the river while watching the sunset. For a little bit of nighttime activities, I would definitely go to Frenchmen Street for the night market and music.

As an artist, I would be remiss if I didn’t bring my friends to some art museums like the New Orleans Museum of Art and Besthoff Sculpture Garden, but I truly love the National WWII Museum which definitely requires two days to finish. Being from the Philippines, of course, I love aquatic life. I am so happy that the Audubon Aquarium had recently reopened because this was such a favorite of mine. City Park and Marsalis Harmony Park also have monthly art markets that I would definitely bring my friends to if I wasn’t already set up there for that weekend.

Of course, it goes without saying, but if it’s Mardi Gras, then we’re doing all of the big parades like Iris, Bacchus, and Endymion. One of my personal favorites because they have an aquatic theme is Proteus, which luckily enough is right before Orpheus!

I love supporting locals, and so I always make a point to support the Crescent City Farmers Market. They have it three times a week in three different locations. My favorite would have the be the one in Mid City along Lafitte Greenway. I always make time to bring my guests over to see my favorite vendors MicroPharms and Passion Flour Bakery.

Luckily enough, a little beach town is not too far away from New Orleans. Within the last year, I have truly fallen in love with Ocean Springs, Mississippi and I have brought my friends over there for a relaxing day at the beach and a stroll in their very cute downtown. I usually plan a lunch out there on the beach and it’s just been a great respite from our busy work life.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank my parents. Coming from a medical field-centered family, I always put a little bit of pressure on myself to follow in their footsteps. My parents and I are immigrants, and I always knew the importance of getting a great education and getting financial stability. While the country that I originally come from isn’t as supportive of fostering a creative career, my parents have always been supportive of my academic and creative endeavors. I credit my parents for giving me the final inspiration to truly pursue my dreams. I still remember the afternoon they sat me down and told me that they see where my true passion lies and that I should pursue it and not miss the opportunity to use my talents. I especially want to thank my dad who unfortunately passed away earlier this year after a short battle with cancer. In one of the last conversations I had with him, he told me how proud he was of me and he has no fears about my future because he knows how dedicated I am to my craft. I am so thankful for the unconditional love and support my parents have given me over the years. I owe my parents all the confidence I had in moving forward on this career path.

Website: https://www.isabelledejoyavea.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idjvartjewelry

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IDJVart/

Image Credits
Isabelle De Joya Vea