Bio

Gary-Ross Pastrana’s (b. 1977, Manila, Philippines; lives and works in Manila, Philippines) art has been one of the most persistent in terms of combining concepts with objects. His conceptual pieces, although loaded with poetic intensity, remain unobtrusively subtle and even almost quaint in their appearance. Coiled photographs, woven tales from found pictures on the internet, sawed off parts of a boat shipped to another country, his shirt tied into a pole to commensurate a flag, these are the slightest of turns Gary-Ross has his objects make to create a new text within.

Pastrana received his Bachelor's degree in Painting from the University of the Philippines, where he was awarded the Dominador Castañeda Award for Best Thesis. He has gained considerable experience and exposure within the region, with residencies in Bandung, Kyoto, Bangkok and Singapore. In 2006, Pastrana received the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Award. Since then, he has shown at the Singapore Art Museum, Metropolitan Museum of the Philippines, the Jorge B. Vargas Museum, and was part of the 2019 The Art Encounters Biennial in Romania, 2019 Singapore Biennale, 2012 New Museum Triennale in New York, 2010 Aichi Triennale, and 2008 Busan Biennale. In 2004, he co-founded Future Prospects art space. In addition to his artistic career, Pastrana curates and organizes exhibitions in Manila and abroad.

Exhibitions include Erstwhile Maps, CASE Space Revolution, Bangkok, Thailand (2020); Every Step in the Right Direction, Singapore Biennale, Singapore (2019); The Art Encounters Biennial, Romania (2019); An Opera for Animals, Para Site, Hong Kong (2019), Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai (2019); Utopia Hasn’t Failed Me Yet, Silverlens, Manila (2018, solo); The Extra, Extra Ordinary, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Manila (2018); The Other Face of the Moon, Asia Culture Center, Gwangju (2017); Clock, Map, Knife, Mirror, ROH Projects, Jakarta, (2016, solo); Summa, Vargas Museum, Manila (2014, solo).

Gary-Ross Pastrana’s (b. 1977, Manila, Philippines; lives and works in Manila, Philippines) art has been one of the most persistent in terms of combining concepts with objects. His conceptual pieces, although loaded with poetic intensity, remain unobtrusively subtle and even almost quaint in their appearance. Coiled photographs, woven tales from found pictures on the internet, sawed off parts of a boat shipped to another country, his shirt tied into a pole to commensurate a flag, these are the slightest of turns Gary-Ross has his objects make to create a new text within.

Pastrana received his Bachelor's degree in Painting from the University of the Philippines, where he was awarded the Dominador Castañeda Award for Best Thesis. He has gained considerable experience and exposure within the region, with residencies in Bandung, Kyoto, Bangkok and Singapore. In 2006, Pastrana received the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Thirteen Artists Award. Since then, he has shown at the Singapore Art Museum, Metropolitan Museum of the Philippines, the Jorge B. Vargas Museum, and was part of the 2019 The Art Encounters Biennial in Romania, 2019 Singapore Biennale, 2012 New Museum Triennale in New York, 2010 Aichi Triennale, and 2008 Busan Biennale. In 2004, he co-founded Future Prospects art space. In addition to his artistic career, Pastrana curates and organizes exhibitions in Manila and abroad.

Exhibitions include Erstwhile Maps, CASE Space Revolution, Bangkok, Thailand (2020); Every Step in the Right Direction, Singapore Biennale, Singapore (2019); The Art Encounters Biennial, Romania (2019); An Opera for Animals, Para Site, Hong Kong (2019), Rockbund Art Museum, Shanghai (2019); Utopia Hasn’t Failed Me Yet, Silverlens, Manila (2018, solo); The Extra, Extra Ordinary, Museum of Contemporary Art and Design, Manila (2018); The Other Face of the Moon, Asia Culture Center, Gwangju (2017); Clock, Map, Knife, Mirror, ROH Projects, Jakarta, (2016, solo); Summa, Vargas Museum, Manila (2014, solo).

Untitled (Poles)
2021
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collage and acrylic paint on canvas
24h x 18w in • 60.96h x 45.72w cm
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Final Battle
2019/2021
7123
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collage on PVC board
66h x 42w in • 167.64h x 106.68w cm (unframed) 73.25h x 49.25w x 2d in • 186.06h x 125.09w x 5.08 cm (framed)
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The Fall of Meaning
2008
890
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dictionary pages covered in varnish
dimensions variable
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Set Fire To Free
2003/2010
891
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wooden ladder, burned wood, glue
variable dimension
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Mum
2008
893
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archival inkjet print
8.50h x 12w in • 21.59h x 30.48w cm
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89-124
2008
894
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collage on index cards
46.5h x 34w in • 118h x 86w cm
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Stream
2008
895
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reassembled boat
dimensions variable
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First Attempt at Social Sculpture or Breaking the Fourth Wall
2011
896
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cake, candy, acrylic
13.78h x 13.78w x 1.97d in • 35h x 35w x 5d cm
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Kit 02 {after Air de Paris}
2013
888
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small wooden box with spray bottle
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99%
2014
897
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assembled car parts, gold (24K), HD video
dimensions variable
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Cave/City 1
2014
898
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collage on board (cut-up acrylic on paper markings)
19.7h x 14.6w in • 50h x 37w cm; 30.3h x 25.3w in • 76.9h x 64.3w cm (framed)
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Homecoming (Yellow)
2014
899
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single channel HD video
(00:03:00 min)
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Coin
2014
900
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filed and sanded down silver coin dust affixed onto glass pane with gelatin
dimensions variable
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Untitled (Dust)
2016
889
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collage on wood
48h x 48w in • 121.92h x 121.92w cm
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Water (cuts) Stone
2017
901
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marble, brass, water and salt
47.24h x 94.49w x 15.75d in • 120h x 240w x 40d cm
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057-12.04.2017
2017
902
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collage (ink on paper)
11.69h x 8.27w in • 29.69h x 21.01w cm
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158-06.30.2018
2018
903
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collage (magazine pages)
11.69h x 8.27w in • 29.69h x 21.01w cm
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Untitled (Lockdown Set)
2020
892
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collage on board
10h x 8w in • 25.40h x 20.32w cm (individual pieces); 70h x 50w cm • 177.80h x 127w in (framed)
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(Eidolon I) Lot- 01 Provisional Objects Series
2019
887
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carved wooden figure on MDF plinth
53h x 35l x 8d in • 134.62h x 88.90l x 20.32d cm (object); 43h x 45l x 21d in • 109.22h x 114.3l x 53.34d cm (pedestal)
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Rewilding
2018
997
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3-channel video
00:08:40 min. loop
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Selected Exhibitions

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