Cover Chris Patio mounts his first solo art show in Manila at Vetted, titled ‘Heritage + Algorithm’ (Photo: Jon Nouel Hipe)
Chris Patio mounts his first solo art show in Manila at Vetted, titled ‘Heritage + Algorithm’ (Photo: Jon Nouel Hipe)
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From a distance, hyperrealistic paintings are like photographs. But get up close and you’d realise the tedious process behind the art, and the precision and creativity required of the artist.
Chris Patio, on the contrary, makes it seem easy. Besides the mastery in techniques, he utilises memory—both as an approach and a narrative. “Heritage isn’t just about what’s old but also what you value,” he says.
Vetted, a creative space founded by renowned interior designer Jonathan Matti, recently kicked off 2025 with an exhibition presenting Patio, a Bay Area Filipino-American artist. His exhibition Heritage + Algorithm marks his first solo show in Manila. A distinguished alumnus of the Philippine Women’s University’s College of Fine Arts and Design, Patio earned second place at the Shell National Arts Competition in 1995.
Read more: Past Meets Present: Chris Patio’s return to the Philippine art scene
Above The exhibition features 12 rural folk scenes in Instagra frames (Photo: Jon Nouel Hipe)
The exhibition features 12 rural folk scenes in Instagra frames (Photo: Jon Nouel Hipe)
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“I started receiving requests for commissioned work,” the artist recalls. “It was also around that time that I met some art patrons, including Jonathan Matti.”
Patio migrated to California and took illustration at San Jose State University. Later, he entered the Golden Gate Atelier’s anatomy and écorche programme under the tutelage of renowned American painter Andrew Ameral.
“My interest in classical realism grew from a deep appreciation for traditional art techniques,” he says. In studying illustration, Patio learnt the fundamentals of drawing and storytelling. “However, it was at the Atelier where I truly connected with classical realism. There, I learnt timeless techniques passed down through generations of artists, which ignited my passion for this style.”
From collecting art books, often spending much of his paychecks on them, the artist immersed himself into combining old traditions in artmaking with his curiosity and understanding of art history. These have become apparent in his paintings for the Vetted exhibition that has its nostalgic charm and his critique on how we consume media today.
Above The artist (Photo: Courtesy of Vetted)
The artist (Photo: Courtesy of Vetted)
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Revealing the confluence of histories and modernity, Patio’s exhibition showcases vintage folk scenes rendered in sepia-toned paintings. Framed voyeuristically, they resemble Instagram grid posts.
“It’s about recognising the things that define who you are in the present,” Patio explains. “The Instagram frame in my work symbolises this balance to illustrate how our identities are shaped by both history and technology and how these forces intersect.”
Read more: Jonathan Matti opens Vetted, Makati’s newest creative space
Above ‘Tabacalera’, 32 x 26 inches, 2024 (Photo: Jon Nouel Hipe)
‘Tabacalera’, 32 x 26 inches, 2024 (Photo: Jon Nouel Hipe)
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Heritage + Algorithm is a fitting homecoming exhibition for the diasporic artist. Evoking memories from the idyllic lens, the expressions of his subjects invite spectators to reflect on life’s simplicity in rural settings—yet these are juxtaposed by frames that represent modernity marred by the present society’s entanglement with standards of popularity.
Featuring 12 oil-on-canvas artworks, the exhibition was inspired by his memories of his visits to the National Museum in his early childhood years and college days. “I remember thinking, ‘How could someone create something so beautiful?’ From that moment, I knew I wanted to be an artist,” shares Patio. “Creating with simple materials, using my hands, and telling stories through art became a core part of who I am. Looking back, it’s incredible how such a small moment could shape my life.”
Above Vetted, founded by Jonathan Matti (Photo: Jon Nouel Hipe)
Vetted, founded by Jonathan Matti (Photo: Jon Nouel Hipe)
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Visiting museums has become a tradition for Patio: “Has felt like going to church,” he quips. It has been his way to centre himself being away from the motherland, usually during his birthday week.
Patio’s works for the show at Vetted take viewers back to his pivotal moment at the National Museum. Lifting from vintage photographs, his subjects are posed and dressed as was the norm of their time. Painted in sepia tones, the delicate brush strokes reveal Patio’s classical leanings, his roots as a Filipino and his perception of humanity’s place in the digital world.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
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Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
