ABOUT THE ARTIST
Meet Lemuel Blanco
Lemuel Blanco is a third-generation painter from the Blanco Family of Artists of Angono Rizal. He is committed to a lifelong passion for empowering people through artistic, cultural, and humble stories. He believes that art is transformative, for it becomes an avenue to tell the most inspiring of stories.
He appreciates his Filipino culture and heritage through art and has already been recognized in Angono as "Natatanging Mamamayan ng Bayan ng Angono sa Larangan ng Sining at Musika” (Outstanding Citizen of the Town of Angono for Visual Arts and Music). He had his first exhibit at age four at the consulate of the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. U.S.A. for the Philippine Independence Day.
He earned his Bachelor Fine of Arts Major in Painting at the University of Santo Tomas as Magna Cum Laude. He is a member of the Angono Artists' Association, and the International Council of Museums of the Philippines.
MY STORY AND FILIPINO HERITAGE
I'm from the Blanco Family
Culture, and heritage are a reality that we experience, which we share through our canvasses. As a family, we paint our diverse perspectives about being Filipino. I, coming from the third generation, has witnessed the change of the times, and accordingly, my art does, too.
My Lolo [Grandfather] Jose "Pitok" Blanco is the biggest inspiration for my compositional methods and techniques; from the form to the color and movements within my work. Yet, there is still an evident difference between the style of my Tatay [Father], my Lolo, and me. Nonetheless, a theme connects our art, the spirit that lives within them, commitment, and love for the Philippines and its people.
From customs, traditions, beliefs, festivities, and aspirations — to the retelling of events expressing calmness, joy, grief, tragedy, and the struggles of everyday life — the family portrays the Philippines in its many ever-changing vignettes.
