Artist Statement

Lily and Moon Studio

I was born and raised in the Philippines, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, and spent vacations on tropical islands and beaches which allowed me to see and interact with interesting animals on the land, sea, and sky. My artworks reflect organic forms, specifically of marine and plant life. I create art to feel a sense of the elemental and natural in a world that is increasingly becoming denuded, and I hope to share the soothing and invigorating colors of nature to others.

I use acrylic paint in matte finish because it is easy to use and yields images that has defined lines, allowing a viewer to see the detail in each piece. I sometimes paint in the conventional way with brushes but I really like working with acrylic paint pens because they allow me to be more precise. I also work with textiles and threads for embroidery projects.

I’m interested in the abstraction of thought as it relates to form and color, and intend to capture the first moments of life when consciousness begins to take shape as well as the final moments when the same consciousness begins to fragment and fade. Ultimately, my art is a celebration of human life as part of a greater thread and process of ebbs and flows. I want to think it very specific ways while also looking at deep time or longue durée (lit. trans. long duration). What specters of existence precedes us and what follows after we are gone?

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I began my career in the arts as a museum worker and freelance art writer in Manila. I hold degrees in Art Studies from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and an MFA in Art Writing and Criticism from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. From 2018 to 2020, I was a graduate fellow at the Asian Cultural Council New York. I have written about art for the Brooklyn Rail, Variable West, Burnaway Magazine, and Women in the Arts, Inc. A list of my literary and art writings can be found Here. I currently live in Central Florida with my husband Mitchell and our cat Beau.