Pacita Abad

Bio

Pacita Abad (b. 1946, Batanes, Philippines - d. 2004, Singapore) is known for her large-scale quilted trapunto paintings characterized by vibrant color and accumulated materials. Marked by vivid colors and intricate materials, her expansive paintings span a broad spectrum of themes, drawn in form and concept from a number of ethnic traditions of craft and thought. From portraying tribal masks and social scenes to intricate underwater landscapes and abstract forms, Abad's work transcended borders.

In 2023, Abad was the subject of a major retrospective exhibition at The Walker Art Center, which traveled later to SFMOMA. The exhibition will then travel to MoMA PS1 and Art Gallery Ontario in 2024–2025. Her work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the National Museum, Jakarta, Indonesia; Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong, The Museum of Philippine Art, Manila; Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila; Bhirasri Museum of Modern Art, Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore; The National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.; and the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Boston, among others. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including: Beyond the Border: Art by Recent Immigrant, Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York; Asia/ America: Identities in Contemporary Asian American Art, a traveling exhibition organized by the Asia Society, New York; Olympiad of Art, National Museum of Modern Art, Seoul, Korea; 2nd Asian Art Show, Fukuoka Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan; and La Bienal de Habana, Havana, Cuba.

Pacita Abad (b. 1946, Batanes, Philippines - d. 2004, Singapore) is known for her large-scale quilted trapunto paintings characterized by vibrant color and accumulated materials. Marked by vivid colors and intricate materials, her expansive paintings span a broad spectrum of themes, drawn in form and concept from a number of ethnic traditions of craft and thought. From portraying tribal masks and social scenes to intricate underwater landscapes and abstract forms, Abad's work transcended borders.

In 2023, Abad was the subject of a major retrospective exhibition at The Walker Art Center, which traveled later to SFMOMA. The exhibition will then travel to MoMA PS1 and Art Gallery Ontario in 2024–2025. Her work has been featured in solo exhibitions at the National Museum, Jakarta, Indonesia; Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong, The Museum of Philippine Art, Manila; Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila; Bhirasri Museum of Modern Art, Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore; The National Museum for Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C.; and the National Center of Afro-American Artists, Boston, among others. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions, including: Beyond the Border: Art by Recent Immigrant, Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York; Asia/ America: Identities in Contemporary Asian American Art, a traveling exhibition organized by the Asia Society, New York; Olympiad of Art, National Museum of Modern Art, Seoul, Korea; 2nd Asian Art Show, Fukuoka Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan; and La Bienal de Habana, Havana, Cuba.

I know you are angry these days
2002
7108
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oil, silver paper on canvas
59.06h x 19.69w in • 150h x 50w cm
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Paris in the Fall
2003
7059
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Acrylic, painted cloth stitched on canvas
94.49h x 70.87w in • 240h x 180w cm
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Pacita Sailing
1983
723
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acrylic paint, rick rack ribbons, painted cloth on stitched and padded canvas
106.30h x 55.12w in • 270h x 140w cm
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Omdurman
1982
722
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acrylic paint on cotton, hand-sewn and trapuntoed
86.61h x 47.24w in • 220h x 120w cm
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Early one morning
2003
7058
1
Oil, painted cloth stitched on canvas
94.49h x 70.87w in • 240h x 180w cm
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Blues train to Yogya
2002
7057
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Oil, painted cloth stitched on canvas
94.49h x 70.87w in • 240h x 180w cm
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From Doro Wat to sushi and chicken wings and
things
1991
7056
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acrylic, oil, painted canvas, plastic buttons, beads on stitched and padded canvas
96.06h x 68.90w in • 244h x 175w cm
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Mayan Mask
1990
7054
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acrylic, painted cloth, rick rack ribbons, handwoven yarn on stitched and padded canvas
98.43h x 68.11w in • 250h x 173w cm
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Hagen Man
1983
7052
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acrylic on cotton, trapuntoed and hand-sewn
97.64h x 51.97w in • 248h x 132w cm
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Red-Eye Mask
1994
7053
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oil, mirrors, plastic buttons, rick rack ribbons on stitched and padded canvas
77.95h x 57.09w x 198h x 145w cm
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I thought the streets were paved with gold
1991
7055
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acrylic, oil, wood bristle, painted canvas, painted cloth on stitched and padded canvas
94h x 68w in • 238.76h x 172.72w cm
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Video

Selected Exhibitions

Selected Press

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