I handcraft luxury home décor products made from recycled, upcycled, and repurposed materials.
My coasters are created using recycled tiles, and an assortment of vintage advertising material and antique labels. The tiles are painted with abstract colors and designs to perfectly match the colors of the labels. I apply a mixed-media coating that makes the coasters waterproof, alcohol-proof, heat resistant to 200 degrees, and I add UV-protection to preserve the historic labels, so they will not yellow or fade over time. Finally my products come to life when the coasters are backed with high-quality, super-absorbent, 100% Portuguese cork.
Stella Divina coasters are a form of “functional art.” They are upscale home décor pieces, made with luxury quality materials, with a mixed-media composition of abstract painting and vintage designs. Each coaster is masterfully crafted to be durable enough for every day use.
I scour the country for unique vintage commercial advertising finds, such as Pre-Prohibition alcohol labels, vintage postcards, and antique citrus crate packing labels. When I find citrus crate packing labels, I scan them, digitally enhance them, fixing scratches, cracks, and rips, and size them to fit perfectly on the hand-painted, multicolored backgrounds of each tile.
My work is a mix of contemporary and modern art, blended with cultural, historical, and mass media references. Stella Divina pieces have been described as “Andy Warhol meets Martha Stewart,” because each piece has an artistic, pop-art element and colorful abstract backdrops, combined with a meticulous approach to product design and functionality.
By incorporating vintage advertising designs into my handcrafted coasters through a mixed-media approach, my home décor art pieces breathe life into historic objects and tell stories of America’s cultural past, helping to keep history alive in away that can be displayed and celebrated as part of daily life.
Check out more at the artist website stelladivina.com.
