5 Significant Works of Art You
Need to See at Gallery Genesis

by Nikki Pascual

Gallery Genesis has a long history as a pioneering art gallery. Now a gallery in Manila, based in Capitol Commons, 2/F North Wing, Estancia Mall, Gallery Genesis aims to bring only the finest curated artworks to art lovers in the Philippines.

The founder, Mrs. Araceli ‘Chichi’ Salas, as an advocate for local artists, continues to give them a platform to be known. Now in its 45th year, Gallery Genesis remains devoted to nurturing a new generation of creatives. Beyond celebrating established names, the gallery continues to provide opportunities for emerging and unknown artists to rise to their full potential.

The gallery’s promise, “For those who appreciate quality, from those who insist on it,” is evident in how Gallery Genesis actively promotes its artists. Through exhibitions and events like Kulay sa Tubig—the longest-running watercolor competition that has just celebrated its 37th year, the gallery continues to champion quality and excellence.

From the modern to the contemporary, the gallery brings these artworks to you:

Inner Circle by Glenn Bautista

In an interview, Glenn Bautista stated, “I do not paint to sell or because something sells. How can I do that? I’d be violating myself.” As a wide-ranging artist who pushed boundaries and whose extensive body of work was not something that catered to trends, his art was not for profit; it was for himself.

This abstract artwork by Glenn is one of his experiments with watercolor, one of the many media he enjoyed. This work with shades of muted orange and streaks of bright blue is a lively work accented by streaks of red. Titled “Inner Circle”, this painting is a piece from an art book sold in the gallery.

Fullness of Life by Teofilo Y. Mendoza

This painting by Teofilo Mendoza, lovingly called T.Y.M., is one of the book pieces of Gallery Genesis. Titled “Fullness of Life”, this work uses oil and has vibrant colors, and the thick paint gives it a layered texture with visible brushstrokes. As an artist, TYM favored pastoral scenes and warm natural sights.

Teofilo was a young artist in Cebu when he began painting, and he enjoyed exploring a variety of different styles. While he made strides in oil painting, he also used acrylic, oil pastels, and watercolor. He was also fond of collages and mixed media works. The work presented here was made decades into his career as a successful artist.

Where Women Keep Their Stories by Kyle Legaspi

This still life painting features an assortment of silver and eggs on fine fabrics. The artist, Chery Faye Legaspi, also known as Kyle, shows her skill in the delicate threads of the fabric and the realism of the silver. Titled “Where Women Keep Their Stories,” this watercolor work is a feast of texture and shine.

Kyle joined the Philippine Guild of Watercolorists in 2018 and became a Board Member in 2019. She has exhibited internationally and won several awards, including recognition from the BGC Arts Center. Her subjects, such as her models and textiles, are from local artisans.

Experience and Innocence by Ping Ceriola

This is a work by Jose “Ping” Ceriola, a three-time winner of the Kulay sa Tubig Watercolor Competition hosted by Gallery Genesis. A master of watercolor, Ping held an exhibition at the gallery, featuring scenes of nature, elevated by his use of light and shadow. This piece in particular, “Experience and Innocence,” shows a nostalgic and soft scene with two sungka players by an aged building.

For a period of time, Ping Ceriola went into a period of retirement from the art scene to take up the position of Art Director in Las Casas de Acuzar in Bataan. After over a decade, he has now returned to the art scene with a renewed sense of passion.

A Sense of Wonderment 01 by Ping Ceriola

Here’s another piece by Jose “Ping” Ceriola. In his last Genesis show, he explored new subjects and scenes. This watercolor painting, “A Sense of Wonderment 01,” shows a cat under the sea watching a school of energetic goldfish. A playful departure from more grounded scenes, this work is dreamlike and comforting.

The artist, when interviewed on his return, stated that though he was proud of his work as an Art Director, he also longed to return to painting full-time. He has always had a fondness for watercolor, saying that, “Before I learned to read and write, I already knew how to paint with watercolor.”

View all these works and more in Gallery Genesis. We welcome you to Capitol Commons, 2/F North Wing, Estancia Mall, where we are working tirelessly to bring more quality curated works to you. It may be possible that we are a gallery near you.