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Hi, I’m Crystal De La Torre, the artist behind Hula Hide Studio.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, where my earliest creative influence was my mom. She encouraged curiosity and imagination, and we spent a lot of time visiting art museums, historic landmarks, and exploring all the visual inspiration California has to offer. Those early experiences shaped the way I see and tell stories through my work.
My work has always been narrative at heart, but it also draws from the look and feeling of post-war children’s illustrations. I’m drawn to nostalgia, playful imagery, and a sense of fantasy. I love creating pieces that feel familiar yet slightly surreal, like distant childhood memories you can’t quite place. Some of the artists who have influenced me over the years include Marlene Dumas, Kim Dingle, Cindy Sherman, and Mark Ryden.
I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts from California State University, Fullerton in 2007, and my Master of Fine Arts from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco in 2011.
Alongside my fine art practice, I’ve been involved in the Tiki community for over twenty years. I’ve lived on the West Coast in Los Angeles, spent nine years in Washington, D.C., and eventually made my way back home to Whittier, California, the birthplace of Oceanic Arts and an important place in Tiki history. That sense of community, craftsmanship, and storytelling has deeply influenced the work I create today.
Through Hula Hide Studio, I make handcrafted, hand-painted, one-of-a-kind pieces inspired by vintage tiki culture, mid-century design, classic Americana, and Hawaiiana. My work includes leather brooches and pins, custom hair and shoe clips, handmade tiki tabletop lamps, and buttons created using up-cycled vintage napkins and coasters from Trader Vic’s. I regularly sell my work at tiki marketplaces and pop-up events, where I love connecting directly with collectors and fellow enthusiasts.
Everything I create is made with care and intention. Each piece is unique, meant to be worn, displayed, and enjoyed, and I’m grateful to share this work with a community that values creativity, history, and handmade objects as much as I do.