Gisela Estrada is a Helen Hayes Award-nominated Latina scenic designer for theater, opera, dance, and live entertainment based in Washington, DC. She earned a Master’s in Scenic Design from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and also holds a degree in architecture from the Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado.
In 2023, Gisela was honored with The Kenan Fellowship from the Kennedy Center. Her work has been showcased in prominent theaters across Washington, DC, Portland, New York, North Carolina, and San Salvador. She has had the privilege of collaborating with distinguished designers and directors in the theater industry.
Born and raised in El Salvador, Gisela grew up in an artistic family that nurtured her passion for creativity. Her mother instilled in her a love for art from an early age. Gisela’s early interests in music, ballet, and visual arts flourished, with training in those fields in her home country. As she grew older, she developed a love for architecture, theater, and artistic photography, particularly specializing in ballet. It was the fusion of her architectural background and photography skills that led her to discover her true passion for scenic design.