Jilli Darling
Berlin
Filipina-Canadian artist Jilli Darling creates vibrant abstract paintings, murals, and digital works inspired by joyful moments and daydreaming
Message
Jilli Darling (aka Jill Castillo) is a visual artist born in Quezon City, Philippines. She has made Berlin her home and creative hub, carrying with her traces of her former lives in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Ireland, and the UK. Trained in Fine Arts from a young age, she later earned a Bachelor of Design in Toronto and worked as a graphic designer before shifting to painting full-time. She creates expressive, layered works using acrylics and oil sticks on canvas, while her digital pieces are playful experiments in form and color. Jilli has also created large-scale murals for WeWork and other creative spaces in Berlin.
Statement
My paintings play with colour, shape, and gesture to explore inner worlds, balancing energy and stillness. Bold hues, soft transitions, and textured surfaces echo memories, moods, and daydreams, unfolding instinctively like a visual conversation. My mark-making is often gestural and expressive, adding a sense of movement and energy to the work. I am particularly drawn to the layering of colours, creating a sense of depth and complexity that invites the viewer to explore the surface of the painting. I hope to evoke emotion and encourage a deeper engagement with my work.