“Woman I Am”: ARTablado shines the spotlight on mothers as artists

Carnation – Flower for Mother’s Day by Giselle Besana

Since 2020, ARTablado, a Robinsons Land initiative, has provided Filipino artists with venues to bring their art closer to people. A portmanteau of “art” and “entablado” (stage/platform), ARTablado has featured rising and established visual artists in their galleries at Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Antipolo, Summit Ridge Tagaytay and Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, ARTablado shines the spotlight on moms with the exhibit “Woman I Am” at ARTablado Robinsons Galleria until May 15.

Artist mothers Valerie Teng and Mylene Quito organized “Woman I Am” in time for the Mother’s Day celebration.

Teng said, “This all-women show is dedicated to moms, from artist mothers with different backgrounds and professions—housewives, designers, full-time artists, lawyers.”

Teng, Quito, and 16 other women showcase their artistic prowess in the exhibit.

They said they found ARTablado a perfect venue to celebrate mothers who balance art and family. They said ARTablado helped them reach a wider audience and encouraged their artistic growth.

“Woman I Am” celebrates a woman’s strength in art. “It tackles a woman’s resilience and power through her artistic expressions amidst her multifaceted societal roles. Each artwork is a testament to her profound strength as she balances Motherhood, professional endeavors, and personal aspirations.”

“They have different art styles and interpret their creativity in different ways,” added Quito, an artist, entrepreneur, and mom of three, who held her solo exhibit “Portraits and Patterns of Unconditional Love” in ARTablado Robinsons Galleria in 2022.

RC Manrique-Santos is a visual artist and mom of three who started painting again during the pandemic. She had a month-long solo exhibit at ARTablado Robinsons Galleria called “Spes in Cruce” in December 2023.

“Woman I Am” also feature the works of multifaceted Bing Famoso, who is a painter, portraitist, natural history illustrator, ceramicist, art educator, licensed teacher; Giselle Besana, who finds inspiration in women of all forms and the stories they have to tell; Isah Rodillo, who fell in love with pyrography and now works with acrylic paints; animator and digital artist Marie Ann Paredes, who considers painting her first true love; Maida Simbahan, who takes inspiration from her daughter daughter; Heidi Pataueg-Fernando, a visual artist, art restorer and a former nurse; Shai Lirio, a self-taught artist who hopes to give people a feeling of optimism with her art; Rachel Barbosa Salva, a mother, wife, artist and lawyer; Gretchen Taruc, a self-taught artist from Pampanga; Z Cabangon, a mom of three and former embassy employee who started painting again during the pandemic; Rowena Maac, an artist who grew up in Masbate; Ann Gatdula, a special needs parent who hopes to spark hope in the hearts of others with her art; Tei Leonardo, a lawyer, up-and-coming post-modern visual artist, devoted wife to Erick and mother to RC; Jaymee Liz, a visual artist, certified art therapy life coach, events host and makeup and special effects prosthetics artist for film and television; and Catherine Ponteres De Guzman, who has worked in garment manufacturing and textile design and who enjoys hand-painting fabric, creating fashion accessories, and paintings on canvas.

Teng said, “Motherhood can influence an artist’s journey in many ways. It connects us to our art through our emotions, sensitivity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of human connections, making it more relatable and authentic.”