A Life Shaped by Art and Perseverance
Exploring creativity, healing, and purpose through fine art and digital expression.
About Linda Estrella Ikeda
Linda Estrella Ikeda is an Asian American fine artist and digital artist based in Long Beach, California. She lives with her husband, James Hickey, and their Siamese cat, Pickle. Linda's life and art reflect resilience, creativity, and perseverance.
A Life of Many Chapters
Linda describes her life as unfolding in distinct acts. Each chapter represents growth, adaptation, and discovery, shaped by both professional pursuits and personal challenges that ultimately led her back to fine art.
Early Career and Professional Path
Linda initially pursued nursing, becoming an oncology RN in the early 1990s. Encouraged by her father, she chose a career that provided stability while supporting herself financially during her early adulthood.
Creative Professions and Exploration
She later transitioned into graphic design and commercial photography, building a successful career that allowed her to support her artistic practice. Linda also worked as a culinary pastry artist, specializing in vegan and gluten-free desserts.
Returning to Fine and Digital Art
Fine art and digital art have always been Linda’s true passion. With the support of her husband, she fully embraced painting, fine art photography, and digital media—creative pursuits she had dreamed of since childhood.
Living and Creating With Lupus
Linda was diagnosed with lupus in her twenties and has lived with the autoimmune condition for over 30 years. Balancing health and creativity has become part of her daily life, shaping both her perspective and her artistic expression.
Art as Healing and Purpose
Creating art has been both therapeutic and life-sustaining for Linda. Despite physical limitations, she remains committed to living with purpose, contributing creatively, and staying connected to family, community, and the world through her work.
Environmental Illness and Advocacy
Linda is also a partial survivor of lead poisoning, an environmental illness she experienced firsthand. Exposure from older commercial buildings taught her difficult lessons about long-term health impacts and environmental hazards.
Author and Advocate
Linda is the author of Tour de Force Unbreakable Warrior, a deeply personal book that reflects her journey through illness, resilience, and survival. Learn more at: unbreakablewarrior.com
Art, Technology, and Connection
Linda finds joy in using modern digital technology to create her art. She hopes viewers experience her work as a shared journey—one that encourages reflection, calm, and a sense of connection through creativity.
Get Ready to Connect With Linda?
Whether you'd like to inquire about her art, learn more about her journey, or explore collaboration opportunities, Linda would love to hear from you.