About Me
Hi! My name is Ilse Cadena
I’m a multidisciplinary artist studying Toy Design at Otis College of Art and Design.
I enjoy blending multiple media forms into my practices. I also enjoy the process of transforming a 2D artwork into a 3D piece.
On a deeper level, I’m interested in the human phenomena, social impact work, business strategy, and exploring the less visible sides of society.
Choosing to study Toy Design felt natural as it brings together my love for art, play, and technical problem-solving.
I was born in Puebla, Mexico, into a family rooted in medicine and business rather than the arts. Creativity was not something that was encouraged. As a toddler, I fondly remember constantly drawing on the walls. I also remember spending many afternoons cleaning my drawings off those walls.
I moved to San Francisco, CA when I was eleven. Soon after arriving, I joined XTECH, a ‘working prototype of a student-production laboratory’ in the Exploratorium. There, students had access to the same tools, technology, labs, and mentorship that museum staff had. That space was the definition of: Permission to experiment/Burning is learning. I spent the next 10 years immersed in a variety of roles through out the museum and picked up many other random jobs along the way. Through all that, I developed a strong foundation in hands-on building, iterative design thinking, STEM education, and resourcefulness.
This experience continues to heavily inspire my work today.
-Ilse
Don’t hesitate to reach out
Commissions, email directly: cxilse.art@gmail.com
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