Pilipino American Art Classics
Who was the first Pilipina/o/x artist you learned about?
Carlos Villa
Carlos Villa
When was the first time you saw art that deeply resonated with your experience, or your journey as a Filipino American?
“Dig into the history that hasn’t been brought into the foreground.. in your community. Whatever that community is. ”
Growing up, many of us didn't see ourselves in in the arts, or even mainstream American media. Whenever we saw someone that looked like us, we were so hungry for it!
Lea Salonga
Paolo Montalban
Whether your first encounter with a Filipino artist was Lea Salonga in Miss Saigon, or Paolo Montalban in Cinderella, Filipinos have been in the arts since we arrived in this country.
Carlos Bulosan
Starting with Bulosan's "America Is in the Heart"; this 1946 Filipino American social classic about the US in the 1930's from the perspective of a Filipino migrant laborer who endures racial violence and struggles with the paradox of the American dream. This is not just a Filipino American classic, but is an American classic.
Alleluia Panis
How do we, as a new generation of Filipino artists, make new American Classics, that represent our experiences, our struggles, and our joys?
After 30+ years of working in San Francisco, and with the rise of SOMA Pilipinas, we're taking up space, and supporting each other to create powerfully.
“An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.”
Each year, Kularts works with 100+ artists of different disciplines and generations. Make sure to check out our programs this spring to see them live.. or better yet, get involved to be part of this strong community of artists!