About | Art by Jikka

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Jikka Defiño is a contemporary Filipina visual artist creating impasto paintings that explore identity, belonging, and the universal search for "home." Her internationally exhibited work, featured in the Philippines, USA, and Italy, employs textured, gestural motifs of houses and familiar spaces.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Jikka Defiño's practice in visual arts critically examines the concepts of "home" and "identity" through the lens of belonging and sanctuary.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Jikka proudly embraced art as a hobby alongside her many creative and academic pursuits growing up. In a society that puts a premium on law, medicine, and other sciences, Jikka was sure of her artistic vocation. To her, art always felt like home, something she could turn to after a long day.

In 2021, Jikka pivoted her practice to textured abstraction, using gestural strokes in bright and vivid colors to capture and convey a resonant sense of hope amidst the global pandemic. She then went on to experiment with forms, landscapes, and color palettes until she found a theme she most resonated with: a home showcased in odd perspectives.

Everyone has a concept of home: a whimsical escape, a living space, or an experience. i create to explore what resonates with different people.

Her artistic journey took on new urgency following her diagnosis of end-stage renal disease in 2025.

This life-altering experience galvanized her commitment to art, compelling her to explore what fundamentally constitutes a sense of resonance and refuge: a universal human quest for home.

She has since continued to refine her craft through a mentoring program at Art Show Philippines. Within 5 months starting May 2025, she has joined over 15 exhibits locally and internationally.

ART STYLE

Jikka translates her introspection onto the surface using thick impasto and gestural strokes, constructing solitary houses in whimsical landscapes or intimate, recognizable spaces.

These works serve as a powerful invitation, prompting viewers to reflect on their own definitions of sanctuary, permanence, and the spaces that define their sense of self.