10 Female Contemporary Artists to Know: Valen Valero, Kathleen Dagum, and More

In the Philippines, the daunting world of art is a place women continue to conquer through mind-blowing pieces that depict their collective struggles and experiences. Below are a few female artists to watch out for this 2022

1. Agnes Arellano

Above Sculptor Agnes Arellano poses for a photo (Photo: Ateneo Art Gallery)

Arellano describes her devotion to art as a process of 'seeking answers'. "I am engaged in a search. You might almost call it a need. I am seeking answers to certain metaphysical questions which represent themselves in the form of paradoxes, and concern the problem of 'existence' or the juxtaposition of, but essential interdependence between, Creation and Destruction," the artist shared.

Her outputs, which are typically based on reinterpreted Filipino myths, often delve deeper into the issues and woes that women experience in the modern world. "I look for clues in myth, history, and folklore. These are the fabric of my work, and [I] tend to give it a strong narrative element. However, we are not just talking here about fairy tales. The material has to plumb the psychological depths," she shared.

As of this post, the artist has already participated in international group exhibitions in Fukuoka, Berlin, New York, Johannesburg, Singapore, and Brisbane. People may also find her works in the permanent collection of the Fukuoka Art Museum, the Singapore Art Museum, and the APEC Sculpture Park by the Naru River in Busan, South Korea.

2. Julie Lluch

Above Contemporary artist Julie Lluch's portrait (Photo: AWARE Women Artist)

Self-taught sculptor, Julie Lluch Dalena, was a Philosophy graduate of the University of Santo Tomas. After her first exhibition in 1977, her works continued to appear in various exhibitions including the 3rd Asian Art Show at the Asian Art Museum in Fukuoka, Japan in 1989; First Asia-Pacific Triennial at Queensland Art Gallery in 1993; and at the exhibition on Asian modernism organised by the Japan Foundation and presented in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines in 1995.

Working in terracotta, stone, ceramic, and bronze, Lluch Dalena is known for her life-size portraits that present satirical commentaries on feminism and gender inequality.

3. Lilay

Above Contemporary artist, LILAY explains her work 'Usapang Suso'

Lilay Sarreal, who majored in Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, is an artist who translates her real-life experiences and struggles into pieces that pique the interest of its viewers. Her latest work, Usapang Suso, was inspired by her mother's struggle with breast cancer.

In an interview with Tatler, the artist discloses how important it is for women's voices to be heard. "We [women] need to make our voices be heard. We need to be seen. We are here. We're not going anywhere."

4. Corinne Fernandez Garcia

Above Contemporary artist Corinne Fernandez Garcia explains her work 'Everyday I am Here'

One of Corinne Fernandez Garcia's most notable works is Everyday I am Here, a calendar that was inspired by the red lipstick Huk Rebellion's Kumander Liwayway used to wear in gun battles. The piece shows a kiss mark on every date, a stamp that resembles the artist's desire to "leave a mark" in the world.

5. Patricia Perez Eustaquio

Above Contemporary artist Patricia Eustaquio (Photo: Generation T )

Patricia Eustaquio is known for her marginalised themes that play with shadows, fragments, and discards. She works in a wide variety of media including paintings, drawings, and installations. The artist enjoys doing sculpture from fabric, shrouding objects with crochet or silk treated with resin.

Eustaquio's work also explores the vanity of artistic and cultural construct by making vibrant and highly decorative objects.

More from Tatler: Must-See Art Exhibitions Around Metro Manila

6. Yvonne Quisumbing

Above Cebu-based multimedia artist and fashion designer Yvonne Quisumbin (Photo: Tatler Asia archives)

Artist Yvonne Quisumbing studied different forms of art such as design and film. She is known for creating "wearable pieces of art" that let her gain international awards and a name in the Filipino fashion scene. Her works have been featured in key galleries and museums in Metro Manila including Silverlens, Makati.

7. Valen Valero

Above Artist Valen Valero

In the 21st century art, many people may consider Valen Valero as one of the most important figures. She is known for her abstract sculptures and paintings that speak a myriad of personal and collective meanings. The artist enjoys making experimental pieces that arouse the curiosity of her audiences.

8. Jade Fulgar

Above Contemporary painter Jade Fulgar (Photo: Imahica)

Jade Fulgar has always been fascinated with learning. She spends most of her time painting as a way of befriending the "most mysterious piece of the universe—the human mind. For Fulgar, every artwork is a reflection of somebody's soul and this is why her style invites every viewer to analyse details and celebrate the tapestry of life.

9. Julieanne Ng

Above A portrait of Julieanne Ng (Photo: Imahica Art Gallery)

Full-time artist Julienne Ng's works are inspired by her ever-changing idea of art. Her style in painting involves the simplification of traditional landscape images that result in new spatial narratives and realities. Through the use of various lines and geometries, the artist is able to freely navigate the world around her.

10. Kathleen Dagum

Above Sculptor Kathleen Dagum poses for a photo (Photo: Imahica)

Kathleen Sareena Dagum, hailed from Sultan Kudarat, is an emerging artist who involves the element of introspection. Her works like Inday Dagum and Goodnight, World (2020), are mostly reflections of her deepest thoughts and identity.

The artist's works, which include materials like cloth, wood, and metal, employ neutral colours and emotional montages in a character with a face that is not prominent

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10 Female Contemporary Artists to Watch Out For