Joseph Tecson

b. 1985

PaintingMixed Media

Joseph Tecson (b. 1985, lives and works in Manila) paints faces and social fractures in thick, urgent impasto. He began painting while in detention from 2008 to 2012, and the inmate portraits he made there became his debut solo exhibition, "Inmates." "I wouldn't be an artist today if I didn't go through that experience," he says. He has recently turned from dark, monochrome canvases to saturated paintings of flowers inspired by his father's farm.

Career

Born 1985. Lives and works in Manila, Philippines Education: Production Design, De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (2004–2008); self-taught as a painter Residency: WhiteSpaceBlackBox, Neuchâtel, Switzerland (2014) Selected solo exhibitions: "Inmates," Mag:Net Gallery, Quezon City (debut); "Destroy the Cages," West Gallery, Quezon City (2013); "Over and Out," Manila Contemporary, Makati (2014); "Inmates + Outmates," WhiteSpaceBlackBox, Neuchâtel (2014); "Perimeter Offense," 1335Mabini (2016); "Lanfscapes" (sic), Art Underground, Mandaluyong (2016); "Luxe, Calme et Volupté" and "Powerplay," Underground Gallery, Makati; "Out of Coverage Areas," 1335Mabini; "In the Middle of the Unknown" (15th solo, DF Art Agency); "Quatervois," Galleria Nicolas, Greenbelt, Makati (2023, 16th solo) Selected group exhibitions: "The Spaces within the Spaces within the Spaces," Nunu Fine Art, Taipei (2018); "Radiation," The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok; "The Benildean Painter," De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (2024); "Kontradestruction" and "Open House 2025," Modeka Art, Makati (2025) Art fairs: Art Fair Philippines 2018 (with Nunu Fine Art) Galleries: Nunu Fine Art (Taipei / New York); 1335Mabini; Galleria Nicolas; Modeka Art Key works and series: "Inmates" series; "Interior After Party I–III" (2018); "Untitled" (2014, attack helicopter); "Red Passion" (2023)

Work examples

Joseph TecsonInterior After Party II

Joseph TecsonDogfight

Joseph TecsonUntitled