• ABOUT THE ARTIST
A known Filipino art critic and art juror once described the
artist's winning entry in a prestigious invitational art competition
and exhibit as "unnervingly real, locked as it
is in the stupendous superiority of his work."*
Drawn to realism, the artist paints
portraits, landscapes, still life and nudes in oil, watercolor
and pastel. Although he has earned notable distinctions
for his watercolor works, for the past years his commission
works consist of portraits and landscapes in oil.
The artist has been commissioned to do
portraits of families in the Philippines and abroad, foreign
dignitaries, doctors, local government officials and their
families. He has a series of works on children and mother-and-child
themes.
The artist is the recipient of the several
art awards from prestigious institutions including Philippine
Centennial Painting Competition (First Prize);
Gallery Genesis (one of the Top Five Watercolorists),
and the National Painting Competition of Metrobank
Foundation, among others.
He joined Grupong Tubig Kulay, a small
select group of watercolorists whose most prominent member
was his mentor, the late artist and sculptor, Solomon Saprid.
He was also a member of the Visual Artists Guild and Tuesday
Group.
The artist graduated with a BA degree in
Fine Arts from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines.
A full-time artist since 1993.
He is a Member of the Portrait Society of America and a member of the Tuesday Group of Artists in the Philippines.
Some of his paintings may be viewed at
the following art galleries in the Philippines: Heritage
Art Gallery (SM Megamall and Shangri-La Plaza Mall,
Mandaluyong City); Art Gallery Philippines
(Makati City) and Metro Gallery (San Juan,
Metro Manila).
The artist held a Solo Exhibit of Nude Paintings on April 2008 at the SM Megamall. This was followed by another Solo Exhibit of Flower paintings held in May 2008 at the Metro Gallery, located in P. Guevarra Street, San Juan, Metro Manila.
In 2009, Mario won the Grand Prize at the LRT ART 2009 competition. His winning entry, “Sakay na Rin Po Kayo”, featured his son, Booey, against a backdrop of everyday scenes using the LRT/MRT. The Philippine Daily Inquirer featured his victory here.
*Cid Reyes, Today
Newspaper: Manila, Philippines. August 12, 1997 |
