SILLA evolved in parallel to my relationship with Marfa.

I moved to Marfa in 1994, to work for The Judd Estate. What was initially a year’s commitment to organize and oversee the appraisal of the estate’s inventory turned into a three-year job. By then, I was ready to get back to making things. I started Silla in 1997 as a design/build company, with an interest in site-specific design. The limitations of a small town with few resources, where materials were hard to come by, created an environment of invention and self-reliance that has become a hallmark of SILLA’s production.

                                                    — Joey Benton, founder of SILLA

Joey Benton

Founder

In 1997, Joey founded SILLA, a design studio rooted in site-specific design. Based in the Chihuahuan Desert, SILLA emerged from the challenges and constraints of working in a remote location with limited access to conventional materials and infrastructure. These conditions fostered a resourceful, hands-on approach that continues to define the studio’s work, characterized by inventiveness, material clarity, and a commitment to place.

In 2022, Amalia relocated to Marfa, Texas, to join SILLA. Her first year was spent as a metal fabricator, working directly with materials and production processes. She then transitioned into a position in the studio’s office as a designer, where Amalia led the development of SILLA’s website and undertook the comprehensive archiving of the studio’s work from 1997 to the present. Now, Amalia works as a designer and coordinator, focusing on select product development, digital strategy, social media, and graphic design—helping shape SILLA’s public-facing identity while continuing to support its core design ethos.

Jane Windler

Fabricator

Since joining SILLA in 2022, Jane has worked across a range of materials and techniques, starting in the woodshop before moving into leatherwork, sewing, patternmaking, and ceramics. This cross-disciplinary approach has become central to her role at the studio. In 2023, she began studying ceramics at Sul Ross State University, where she has since completed coursework in Ceramics I, II, and Advanced. As of 2025, she now leads ceramic design and fabrication at SILLA, while continuing to contribute to projects involving wood, leather, and textiles.