Eliseo Art Silva 

 

Gregory Amenoff, president of the National Academy of Design (2001-2005), said of Silva’s work: "In McCubbin Stepanic`s work,  the particulars of identity are only alluded to, whereas in the work of Silva and Raja they are fully explicit. Eliseo Art Silva offers us a panorama that directly and indirectly references both the original Filipino culture and the colonial history layered over it. Like few cultures in the world, the Philippine Islands have been territorialized by what seem to be tens of conquerors. Silva explores the complex layers of that world by employing a dreamlike atmosphere through which images of historical artifact float. This is not a representation of a single `mind`but rather the `mind`of an entire people - a collective memory. Within his work a voice is clearly heard, and it’s a voice that is hard to forget."

 

Jane Golden, founder and executive director of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program said, "I had the pleasure of knowing Eliseo now for a dozen years. He is someone for whom this art form resonates deeply in his soul. He is someone who understand when you talk about muralism and what that means; and the connection between the Mexican muralists, and the WPA, the political art in this country during the 60s and 70s that talked about our times and our struggles: when people in Chicago in the late 60s created art that cannot be shown in galleries and museums, Eliseo has been thinking about this art form for a long time because of accessibility, issues around equity, participation, collaboration and the way it reflects back people's stories. He represents all that is good and wonderful in the field. It's what is in his heart I think that really matters. It is his belief in this art form, and his dedication to it. He has been tireless in his pursuit, not just of art; but of politics, of meaning, of representation."

JUDY BACA, co-founder and artistic director of the Social and Public Art Resource Center said, " Eliseo is a respected Filipino artist that has produced pioneering work for his community." 

 

BIO

1972 Born in Manila, Republic of the Philippines
1985 Colegio De San Juan De Letran, Intramuros, Manila, Republic of the Philippines

1989 Philippine High School for the Arts, Laguna, Republic of the Philippines

1992 Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA, USA

1995 B.F.A., Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA, USA

2002 Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME, USA

2003 M.F.A. Hoffberger School of Painting, Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, MD, USA

2004 Artists-in Communities Training (ACT), Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA, USA

 

MAJOR PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS:
2015  La Cadena Mural, (200`x 13`, each wall, S/B and NB lanes), Acrylic on Polytab ClothCity of Colton, CA
        Philippine Nationality Room (PNR) Mural, University of Pittsburgh with the Filipino American Association of   
        Pittsburgh (FAAP), Pittsburgh, PA. 
2014 "Gateway to Historic Filipinotown (Western Section)," City of Los Angeles, CA
       "History Walls for TFC 20th Anniversary," 8' x 50' (three sections) with interactive digital consoles. Sponsored by
         The Filipino Channel (TFC), Redwood City, CA

2013 "Alab ng Puso:100 Years of Filipinos in Greater Philadelphia,’ 22’ x 60’, Acrylic on Polytab Cloth, multimedia              installation, 8426 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program                (MAP) and the Filipino American Association of Philadelphia, Inc. (FAAPI).

2011 "Choose Respect" 16’ x 24’ , Acrylic on polytab cloth mounted on MDO sheets, Blatchley Middle School, Sitka,               Alaska

2010 `Manifest Diversity`8` x 24`, Mosaic, Low-Relief Sawdust sculpture, Acrylic on polytab cloth monted on MDA                 Boards, Loker

           Student Center, California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), Carson, CA
        "The Great Commission" 8’ x 40’, Acrylic on polytab cloth,  Vineland United Methodist Church, Vineland, NJ

         "LUZ-VI-MINDA" 8’ x 30’, Acrylic, Philippine Community Center, Philippine Community of Southern NJ

2009 "Roots and Wings" 42' x 22' Acrylic on polytab cloth and Mosaic materials, Carson, CA.

        "Out of Many, We are One: The Juan J. Soria Memorial",5' x 74' Acrylic on polytab cloth, Oxnard, CA

        "A shenere un besere velt (Towards a More Beautiful and Better World)", (70' x 20') acrylic and mosaics,
         Workmen's

           Circle/ Arbeter Ring, LA, CA

2008 "Kirkland Memorial Garden", (45' x 50'), Acrylic, Cecil B. Moore, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the City of                Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

        "Breaking Down the Walls of Negativity", (8' x 15'), Acrylic on polytab cloth, E3 West Center, Lancaster Ave,                    Philadelphia, PA.    Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

2007 "My North Philly: Nicetown", (35' x 70') and (35' x 45') Acrylic, Mosaic tile, Glass, 4300 Germantown Avenue,            Nicetown Park, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

        "Arise and Reclaim" (35' x 80') Acrylic, 1937 Ridge Ave., N Philly, PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia                     Mural Arts Program

       "Educate to Liberate" (17' x 64'),Acrylic on polytab cloth, Joseph Pennell Public School, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

       "Be The Change" (9' x 46'), Acrylic on polytab cloth, Thomas Creighton School play yard, Tabor Rd.,                                Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

2006 "The Apotheosis of Youth" (8' x 20') Acrylic on polytab cloth mounted on alumalite, Clyde Sacks Visual Arts                Center, The Milton Hershey School and  MAP, Hershey, PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts
        Program (MAP).

       "Wall of Inspiration" (7' x 85') Acrylic on polytab cloth, Olney High School Auditorium Corridor, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

       "Healing Walls" (8' x 30') acrylic, bamboo, faux rocks and wood, Wedge Pacific Rim Center, Philadelphia, PA

2005 "Solidarity Mural" (4' x 20') Acrylic on canvas, William Monroe Trotter Multicultural Center, University of
         Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

        "Coming to America and Making it Better" (57' x 31') Acrylic on polytab cloth, Gilbert Spruance Elementary School, NE Philly, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

        "From Light to Life" (7.5' x 15') Acrylic on polytab cloth, Rhawnhurst Elementary School lunch room, Philadelphia,
          PA. Sponsored by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

        "If They Want to Know What We Are – We Are Revolution!" (6' x 4') Acrylic on canvas, Carlos Bulosan Heritage
           Center,

           Bayanihan Center, Philippine Forum, Queens, NY

2004 "La Sierra Passages: Gateway to Riverside" (7,000 square feet total: n/b lane and s/b lanes: (18' x 150') Acrylic
           on polytab cloth and Keim granital paint, 91 Fwy underpass at Pierce St, Riverside, CA

        "The Panopticon Project" sponsored by the Ford Foundation and Ma-Yi Theater, New York, NY

        "African Bridges" (35' x 45') Acrylic, 340 E. Haines St., The Lotus Academy, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the
         City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

        "Guardian of an Eden Regained" (120' x 18') Acrylic, 2114 N 6th St., Sponsored by Glaxo SmithKline and
          Philadelphia

          Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia, PA.

2003 "Heavenly Thoughts" (35' x 30') Acrylic, Girls and Boys Town, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by the
          City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (MAP).

        "Filipina Girl with Camera" (7' x 5') fresco (pigment on lime plaster with sand), The Fresco Barn, Skowhegan
          School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME

2002 "College Life and Advocacy" (8' x 24) Acrylic on canvas, UCR Science Library, sponsored by ASUCR: Class of 
           2001 senior gift, Riverside, CA

2000 "The Price of Freedom: Tribute to U.S. Veterans of all the Wars of the 20th Century," H Street, Lompoc, CA

1999 "Can You Read the Secrets of History in My Face? " (8' x 9') acrylic on canvas, Carlos Bulosan Memorial Exhibit,
           Eastern Hotel, International District, Seattle, WA

        "Beyond the Water of Dreams" Main panel: 27' x 7', six medallion murals: 4'x4' each, and one medallion mural
           outside: 6' x 6', Acrylic on concrete and stucco, Normandie Village Apartments, LA, CA

1998 "a shenere un besere velt: Towards a More Beautiful and Better World" (70' x 20') Acrylic on stucco, Workmen's
           Circle/ Arbeter Ring, Los Angeles, CA

1997 "Journey Into the Heart of America: The Asian Pacific American Experience" (20' x 8') Acrylic on MDO sheets,
           The APISC Student Center, California State University, Pomona, CA

1995 "Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana (Filipino Americans: A Glorious History, A Golden Legacy)"

          Acrylic, 1660 Beverly Blvd., HIstoric Filipinotown, Los Angeles, CA

 

EXHIBITIONS:
2014 "Arrival of the 12th Poblador," Pico House (National Historical Landmark), Los Angeles, CA

        "Assimilated Savages," Vapegoat Art Gallery, Highland Park, LA CA
       "Hope For Haiyan," Racquel Estate, Sponsored by FilAm ARTS, Los Angeles, CA

2013 "I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story," Japanese American National Museum, LA,
          CA

        "Mga Bulong ng Babaylan: Whispers of the Shaman," Papi’s Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2012 "Ugat: Filipino Roots," Los Angeles City Hall, LA, CA

2010 "Memory & Surveillance", Solo Exhibition, The Arthur Gallery, Moorpark, CA

2008 "Transplants," Curated by Sean Stoops, Asian Arts Initiative Gallery Space, Philadelphia, PA.

2006 "Singgalot: The Ties That Bind, The Filipino American Story," Smithsonian Institute Travelling Exhibit,
            Washington, D.C.

2004 "The Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant Recipients," Cue Art Foundation, Chelsea, New York, NY

2003 "The Future is Now: An MFA Biennial," Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Wilmington, DE

         "Academy 2003 (Annual MFA/BFA Invitational)", Conner Contemporary Art, Washington, D.C.

         "Discrimination," Painted Bride Art Center, Philadelphia, PA

2000 "Made in California: Art, Image & Identity, 1900-2000", Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA),

            Los Angeles, CA (catalogue)

        "Tabo(o)," Claremont Graduate School Art Gallery, Claremont, CA

1997- 99 "Memories of Overdevelopment", A SPACE Gallery, Toronto, Canada, North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand
           Forks, ND,

          Plug-In Gallery, Winnepeg, Canada, Sweeney "Art Gallery," University of California, Riverside, CA (catalogue)

         "Imagining Images: Asian American Artists Explore the Homeland", Korean American Museum, LA, CA

1996 "Rejuvenation", East West Center Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii (catalogue)

        "Revolution-Eyes", Kerchoff Gallery, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), LA, CA

        "Liquitex Emerging Artists of the Year", American Council for the Arts, New York, N.Y.(Purchase Award)

        "Tastes Like Chicken", University Art Gallery, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA

        "Heritage", Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, LA, CA

        "Asian Pacific Exhibition", Adobe Crow Gallery, Bakersfield, CA

        "A Collective Voice", Carson Civic Center, Carson, CA

1994 "Beyond Borders", Art Gallery, Skyline College, San Bruno, California

        "Wallworks", LA Artcore, Los Angeles, CA

        "Contemporary Ancestral Art: Unity in Cultures", Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA

1993 "Emergence and Diversity: Kayumanggi Presence", Honolulu Academy of Arts Academy Art Center, Honolulu,
          Hawaii

        "Downtown Lives!," LA Artcore, Los Angeles, California "La Fete Sauvage: The Festival of Savagery", Los Angeles

            Contemporary Exhibitions, La, CA

        "Ugat Pilipino: Filipino Roots", LA City Hall, Los Angeles, California

        "Contemporary Ancestral Art", Art Gallery, Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA

        "Tribalism", Abe and Helen Bolsky Gallery, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California

        "Clay", Abe and Helen Bolsky Gallery, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA

        "XXIX Inland Exhibition", San Bernardino Art Museum, San Bernardino, California

1992 "Word/Image", Life Arts Building, Riverside, California

        "Hues of Humanity", Life Arts Building, Riverside, California

1991 "Protect Our Living Environment", Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Carmichael, CA

        "Honor Students in Art", Art Gallery, Riverside Community College, Riverside, CA

        "Louisville Arts Festival, Louisville Center for the Arts, Colorado

1990 "XXVI Inland Juried Art Exhibition", San Bernardino Art Museum, CA

1989 "Thesis Exhibition", Philippine High School for the Arts, National Arts Center, Laguna, Republic of the
          Philippines (Gold

          Medal in the Visual Arts Award)

1988 "The Art of Ecology", Cultural Center of the Philippines, Pasay City, Philippines

1987 "Shankar's International Children's Painting Exhibition", Nehru Gallery, New Delhi, India

           Nippon Television Network Cultural Society's International Children's Painting Exhibition", Tokyo, Japan

1986 "For the Children of Negros", Palma Hall, University of the Philippines, Quezon City, Republic of the Philippines

        "International Young Art Exhibition", Emily College of Art and Design, Canada

1984 "Styles, Shades and Strokes", The Artist's Gallery, Paranaque, Philippines

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2013 "Mga Bulong ng Babaylan: Whispers of the Babaylan," Papi’s Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

2010 "Memory & Surveillance," The Arthur Gallery, Moorpark, CA

2004 "La Sierra Passages," Brandstater Gallery, La Sierra University, La Sierra, Riverside, CA

2003 "Spectacle and Surveillance: MFA Thesis Exhibition," Thesis and Meyerhoff Gallery Maryland Institute College of Art,

           Baltimore, MD

         "Larawan ng Sambayanan: Portrait of a People," Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Washington, DC

1995 "BFA Thesis Exhibition," Otis College of Art and Design, LA, CA

1992 "Hues of Humanity," Life Arts Gallery, Downtown Riverside, Riverside, CA

1989 "Thesis Exhibition: Langit, Lupa at Impyerno ng Lipunang Pilipino," Jeepney Installation, Tanghalang Maria
           Makiling, Philippine High School for the Arts, National Arts Center, Laguna, Philippines

 

AWARDS:

2012 Filipino American Heritage Award, Los Angeles Filipino American Association of City Employees (LAFAACE), LA
         City Hall, LA, CA

2008 Visual Art Fellowship, Independence Foundation, Nominated by the Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, PA

        Gawad Manlilikha (Creative Arts), Search to Involve Pilipino Americans Award for outstanding contributions to
        the multicultural community of Los Angeles.

2007 Conceptual Designer, Historic Filipinotown Pocket Park, Council Mem. Eric Garcetti's Office, City of LA

        Founding President, Filipino American National Historical Society-Pennsylvania Chapter.

2005 The Chairman's Award, State of California Senate and Assembly Certificates of Recognition, Greater Riverside
        Chamber of Commerce, Beautification Award for La Sierra Passages Mural, Riverside, CA

2004 Ford Foundation Grant, The Panopticon Project Mural, City College of NY, NY

2003 The Joan Mitchell Foundation, Inc. MFA Grant Award, The Joan Mitchell Foundation, Inc, New York,NY

        First Prize, 2003 Emerging Artist's Competition, InLiquid.com, Philadelphia, PA

        First Prize, William Penn Charter School Juried Art Show, Philadelphia., PA

1999 Works included in the Philippine Centennial Time Capsule by National Centennial Commission (NCC), Rizal
        Park, Manila, Republic of the Philippines

        ULI Award of Design Excellence, The Urban Land Institute, Washington, D.C. (for Normandie Apts. and

           Murals in Little Armenia, LA, CA)

1997 Award of Design Excellence, The Los Angeles Board of Cultural Affairs Commissioners, LA, California

        Framed giclee of the mural "Filipino Americans," was City of LA Mayor Riordan's official gift to Philippine President Fidel

        V. Ramos during his official visit to the City of LA, CA

 

TEACHING:

2010 Instructor, Spring Semester, Chicano Studies: Multicultural Center Mural Project, California State University
          Dominguez Hills, Carson California.

2009 MURAL CORPS Instructor, E3 West Center, Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. Sponsored by Mural CORPS
           and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia, PA.

2008 Teaching Artist, Institute for the Arts in Education (IAE), Philadelphia, PA

2007 Joseph Pennell Public School, (16 Sessions), Philadelphia, PA.

          Teaching Artist, Institute for the Arts in Education (IAE), Philadelphia, PA

2006 Teaching Artist, Institute for the Arts in Education (IAE), Baldi Elementary and Anne Frank Elementary School,
           Philadelphia, PA

        Teaching Artist, Thomas Creighton Elementary School, Mural Partnership be

1997 Lecturer and Mural Instructor: "Ethnicity, Folklore, and the Arts: Mural Art in Asia America", Pomona, California
          Pomona College, Lecturer and Workshop Instructor, Claremont, CA