I embraced the arts from an early age by immersing myself in the work of Italian artists and filming them creating in their ateliers throughout their careers.

Travelling around the world and walking by the ocean, I discovered a passion for all the organic shapes and forms…in particular sea anemones. I thought to give these small coral stones from the sea a rebirth and began to design and make unique beautiful pieces of jewelry.

Loredana de Lama was my partner at the time and we enjoyed a lot of success selling our distinctive pieces around the world.  We were invited to participate at the Italian Culture Month at the Yacht Club in Monaco in 2014, where we had the honour to meet Albert II, Prince of Monaco.  We were also asked to design and make a unique award for the Bahamas International Film Festival, which we then presented to Grace Jones.  Miss Jones also wore and loved the AstengodeLama pieces that were chosen for her. We then enjoyed several visits to the Flanerie d’art contemporain in Aix-en-Provence, which was created by the French actress Andréa Ferréol.

My focus has always been rooted in my love of nature and every piece I make must be pleasing to the eye, bring joy to the wearer and inspire onlookers to ask inquisitive questions.  At this stage, I feel totally involved and immersed in the process of creating unusual pieces of jewelry, unique sculptures and my more recent collection of wall art.  

Firstly, I study each individual piece, whether it be a precious stone or an organic natural structure, following its primary shape, its light and movement and then with the help of my trusted colleague, Paolo Mangano, it becomes an ISABELLA ASTENGO one off piece of jewelry.  I am sure my recent findings in Africa and beyond, will inspire me further in my current art work and jewelry designs.

Those who indulge in owning a piece of my work, are definitely those who are ‘not scared to stand out in a crowd’