CJ de Silva


Christiana Jade de Silva-Ong was a Filipino art director, painter, illustrator, and graphic designer. She was known as a "Gifted Child" and a "Promil Kid", being featured in an infant formula ad in 1998. She staged three major solo-artist exhibitions and worked as a senior art director.

Background

De Silva was born in Manila and was raised in Malabon, just north of the capital city. She attended the St. Scholastica's College Manila and in 2008 graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Fine Arts, with a degree in Visual Communication.

Work

Exhibitions

De Silva staged three major solo-artist exhibitions and participated in many joint art shows throughout the years.

Illustration and Graphic Design

CJ de Silva illustrated the 2006 First Prize awardee in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Ang Ikaklit sa Aming Hardin, written by Bernadette Villanueva Neri. She also designed and illustrated the album art of itchyworms' fifth studio album After All This Time. De Silva also illustrated some fictional gig posters as part of the marketing campaign for ' film . CJ de Silva's illustrations were also featured in Esquire Philippines. She was also known for painting and illustrating on sneakers and became one of Keds Philippines ambassadors.

Advertising

Right after graduating from college, de Silva started working in TBWA\Santiago Mangada Puno. Being part of the Creative team, she won a few advertising awards. She was part of the team that won the Philippines' first Webby Award for the internet film entitled "A Toy Love Story That Will Make You Cry". She was most recently the Executive Creative Director of the agency.

Personal life and death

In 2013, de Silva married director Wincy Aquino Ong. They have a podcast called Telebabad Tapes.
De Silva died of two strokes and an aneurysm on June 18, 2024, at the age of 36. Her death was confirmed a day later by her husband, Wincy Ong.