Filipino artist Pacita Abad’s first retrospective unveiled at NY exhibit

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) currently showcases the work of Filipino artist Pacita Abad in a retrospective exhibition. Image: Screencap from MoMA PS1/Facebook

Vibrant colors and dynamic life greet visitors at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) as it currently showcases the work of Filipino artist Pacita Abad in a retrospective exhibition.

Displayed on the third floor of MoMA PS1, this retrospective spans Abad’s 32-year career, featuring more than 50 works, many of which have never before been publicly shown in the United States.

Born in 1946 in the Philippines, the Ivatan artist is renowned for her use of vivid colors. According to MoMA, Abad was largely self-taught and gained recognition for her distinctive “trapunto” paintings – a unique technique where she stitched and stuffed her canvases to give them a three-dimensional, quilted effect.

In a MoMA video on Facebook, Abad reflected on her artistic influence on the country, saying, “Color, I have given it color.” She elaborated, “These were the colors I grew up with—Chinese red, yellow and orange. My works are inspired by the many places I’ve visited and the diverse cultures I [have encountered.]”

Abad’s art was heavily influenced by her extensive travels and the various cultures she encountered, resulting in works that often reflected themes of immigration, political struggle and social justice.

Her bold use of color and innovative techniques set her apart in the art scene. Despite her passing in 2004, her legacy continues to inspire and influence artists around the world.

“She was radical before her time, and the rest of the world is just catching up,” described MoMA.

The exhibition is complemented by a significant publication on Abad’s work, produced by the Walker Art Center.

Furthermore, as stated in the press release, Sung, the Phyllis C. Wattis senior curator at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive and former associate curator of Visual Arts at the Walker Art Center, curated the exhibition along with Miranda, a curatorial fellow in Visual Arts at the Walker Art Center.

The MoMA PS1 presentation is overseen by Ruba Katrib, curator and director of Curatorial Affairs, with the assistance of Sheldon Gooch, curatorial assistant at MoMA PS1.

Abad’s philosophy emphasized the communal aspect of art, as she believed, “Art is for other people. It’s not just for yourself.”

The exhibition runs until Sept. 2, with free admission for New Yorkers.