ARTIST STATEMENT:
I am inspired by the rhythm of life, always observing the beauty of transition. My art is a portal of the past colliding with the present, a moment in time trying to break free. I often have visions of multiple lifetimes moving in between time. Through my spiritual & decolonization journey, I continue to un-learn & learn to re-member the divine ancestors whose talents I carry & honor within my being. My art as a tool to break through walls, channel spirit and nature messages, the hidden truths interwoven in the bloodlines of my lifetimes. I believe art and creation is a form of liberation, an ease to shape shift, unravel & birth a new narrative for ourselves and our descendants. In everything I create, is an invitation to pause, breathe with ancestral knowing, heal our bloodlines & rebirth with a new life.BIO:
Gigi Bio was born in Ohlone Territory / Oakland, CA & lives in Lenape Territory / Brooklyn, NY with ancestral roots from Mindanao & Bicol, Philippines. She is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, healer, and culture bearer with a deep love for photography, architecture, textiles, beadwork, embroidery, and weaving inspired by cross cultures & her interconnected roots.She received her BFA in Fashion from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia, and AA in Fine Art from Florida State College in Jacksonville, Florida. Her artwork has been exhibited in “Street or Studio - The History of Urban Photography" at Tate Modern in London, UK; "Click - The Changing Faces of Brooklyn" at Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY; "Frida Mania" Women's Day Festival 2014, Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, CA & "I am The Dream My Ancestors Dreamed Would Free Them” A Conversation About Decolonization and Re-membering Ancestors through the Arts at Queens Museum.
Her artwork was published in books "Newbrow 50 Contemporary Artists", "Street or Studio A Photobook" , “Click!”, Slice Magazine, Hycide Magazine, LAKAS Zine & FIL/AM Artist Directory 2018 Edition. She was part of the original cast of “Raised Pinay”, a play based on the real life narratives of Filipino-American Women at the Philippine Consulate & NYU in New York, NY. Today, she continues to evolve into new mediums of creation & expanding into textiles, beadwork and weaving inspired by her indigenous Philippine roots. Currently she is building with community as Curriculum Development Director in Fashion Design and Illustration for Pinaysphere, a new arts initiative for the next generation of creative Pinays.
She is affiliated with Filipino/American Artist Directory, Galerie Geraldine Zberro in Paris, France; Art Whino Gallery in Washington DC & Fabien Castanier Gallery in Los Angeles, CA.
BORN:
1978, Oakland, CAEDUCATION
2003:
BFA Degree Fashion Design, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA2000:
AA Degree Fine Art & Fashion Design, Florida State College, Jacksonville, FLSOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2020:
“RESURFACING” Gigi Bio Solo Exhibition, Weaving Hand, Brooklyn, NY2013:
"FU-Chinese New Year" Fu-Ark-istra Concert & Gigi Bio Solo Show, Yippee Museum, New York, NY2012:
"Industrial Grace" Gigi Bio Solo Show, Art Attacks - Mobile Gallery, New York, NY2011:
"Biomorphic" The Solo Show of Gigi Bio, Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC2010:
The White Train presents "Utopia" Gigi Bio Solo Show, DIS Micro Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2023:
"Women's Empowerment" Women's History Month Art Exhibition, 60 Collective x Roller Wave House BK, Brooklyn, NY.2022:
"The 60 Collective 3" Art Exhibition, 60 Collective Art Gallery, DUMBO, Brooklyn, NY.2020:
“Tuloy po Kayo” The Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture 2020 - Virtual Art Exhibition, Fil Am Arts, Los Angeles, CA.2019:
“ID.ENTITIES FILIPINX” KCKK Art Gallery, Kansas City, Kansas
“Miss Walang Hiya 2019” Walang Hiya NYC, Performance Art & Procession, Queens, NY2018:
"Kayumanggi : Post Colonial Filipinx", Tipton Gallery & Reece Museum, Johnson City, Tennessee.2017:
"Women To The Front : Volume 1 (WTTF)", Supercheif Gallery, Ridgewood, New York.
"Filipino Pride Day Festival", Jax Landing, Jacksonville, FL.2016:
"Raised Pinay" Benefit Play / Live Art Performance & Benefit Art Auction, Philippine Consulate & NYU Palladium Hall, New York, NY
"I am The Dream My Ancestors Dreamed Would Free Them" A Conversation About Decolonization and Re-membering Ancestors through the Arts, Queens Museum, Queens, NY2015:
"G40 Art Summit", Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
"We Are All Doomed" Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
"Cherry Blast" National Cherry Blossom Festival, Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC2014:
"G40 Art Summit", Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
"Cherry Blast" National Cherry Blossom Festival, Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
"Brooklyn Bridge" 131th Anniversary Group Art Show, Urban Folk Art Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"Frida Mania" Women's Day Festival 2014, Museum of Latin American Art, Long Beach, CA.
"Exodus" Group Photography Exhibition, Exit Room Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"Typhoon Haiyan Philippine Benefit Art Show", Launch Pad, Brooklyn, NY
"Raise Up Philippines" Art Benefit for the Philippines, Bunnycutlet Gallery, Brooklyn, NY.2013:
"60. The Collective" Group Show, ReBar WalkWay, Brooklyn, NY
"Stay Strong Philippines" Art Benefit for the Philippines, Juke Bar, New York, NY
"G40 Art Summit", Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
"The Sketchbook Project 2013" Traveling Sketchbook Show, Brooklyn, NY
"Brooklyn Bridge" 130th Anniversary Group Art Show, Urban Folk Art Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"NUMAD" Group Art Show, 3rdEye(sol)lation Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"Momma's Hip Hop Kitchen, Vol. 6: No Limits... Knowledge is Power!, Hostos Community College, Bronx, NY2012:
"Fear No Art 4" Contemporary Pop & Street Culture Group Show, Fourth Wall Project Gallery, Boston, MA.
"FREESTYLE" Group Show, Fabien Castanier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA.
"Brooklyn Bridge" 129th Anniversary Group Art Show, Urban Folk Art Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"Collage Art" Group Show, Backspace Gallery, Portland, OR
"Fountain Art Fair | New York 2012", Mighty Tanaka Gallery, New York, NY
"G40 Art Summit" Group Show, Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
"Bio vs. Nano" 8x10 Collective Show, Halcyon Record Shop, Brooklyn, NY2011:
"G40 Art Summit" Group Show, Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
"Bio vs. Nano" 8x10 Collective Show, DIS Micro Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
"Biomorphic" The Solo Show of Gigi Bio, Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC2010:
Dumbo Arts Festival, ReBar Exhibition Space, Brooklyn, NY.
Across The Board : Artists for Autism Awareness, Soapstone Gallery, New York, NY
“Create. Collaborate. Inspire” White Train @ Space on White, Space on White, NY, NY
"Graffolution" The Evolution of Graffiti & Street Art, Soapstone Gallery, New York, NY
G40 Art Summit, Group Show, Art Whino Gallery, Arlington, VA
2010 RFS Taste the World, Refugee Family Services Benefit, Atlanta, GA
Under the Bridge, 47 Monroe Street Gallery Loft, New York, NY2009:
Art Whino: MIAMI, Art Whino Gallery, Miami, FL
Rebar & 303rd Collective: Dumbo Festival, Dumbo Loft, Brooklyn, NY Beta Banger, Die Fabrik Loft, New York, NY
BoConcepts presents: Art for Urban Design, BoConcepts, New York, NY Brooklyn Artsmith Collective & PS261: Project 261 Art Show & Fundraiser, Galapagos Art Space, Brooklyn, NY2008:
Street or Studio – The History of Urban Photography, Tate Modern, London, UK
Click! The Changing Faces of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
Girls Dream in Color "Baby, Let me show you what Love is", Harriet's Alter Ego, Brooklyn, NY2004:
Sense of Otherness, Pinnacle Gallery, Savannah, GA
Sense of Otherness, Savannah Gallery, Atlanta, GA Faces of SCAD, Hamilton Hall Gallery, Savannah,GA2002:
Making Sense, Gallery Espresso, Savannah, GA2001:
Open Studio Night, Alexander Hall Gallery, Savannah,GA
Taste of Five Points, Fuel Gallery, Jacksonville, FL2000:
Media, River Room, Southend Brewery, Jacksonville, FL
Junio Show, Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, Jacksonville, FL
1999 - 2001: First Fridays Group Shows, Brooklyn Contemporary Art Center, Jacksonville, FLAWARDS:
Marian Edna Effing Portfolio Scholarship, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Visual Arts Talent Grant, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FLPUBLICATIONS:
Filipino American Artist Directory, 2018/2021 Edition, St. Louis, MD
ID.Entities Filipinx - Tipton Gallery / Reese Museum, Johnson City, TN.
KAYUMANGGI Post Colonial Filipinx - Slocumb Galleries, Johnson City, TN.
LAKAS Magazine - Issue 1, New York, NY
Newbrow 50 Contemporary Artists, Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
Hycide Magazine - The Anniversary Issue, New York, NY
Slice Magazine - Issue 6: Metropolis, New York, NY
Street or Studio - A Photobook, Tate Modern, London, UK
Click! A Crowd-Curated Exhibition, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NYPRESS:
"Choppin' It Up: Gigi Bio" Featured Artist on www.596artistunion.com
"Gigi Bio Restitching the City in Photos" Featured Artist on The New York Optimist www.thenewyorkoptimist.com
"My Girlfriends Rule" Interview at www.lichiban.blogspot.com
"What The Fresh - Stop.Look.Listen. Top 5 Art: Gigi Bio" at www.WhatTheFresh.com
"Q&A with Artist Gigi Bio - Don't Call Her a Cubist, She's Been Here For Years!" Interview at www.sofreshsogreen.com
"Restitching the City in Photos" Article at www.bushwickbk.com
"Friday Art Star: Gigi Bio" Featured Artist at www.protopol.us
"Cityscapes: Street Art Comes to PS261" Article at www.wync.orgCOLLECTIONS:
Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA
Florida State College, Jacksonville, FLREPRESENTED BY:
Filipino/American Artist Directory, St. Louis, MO
Galerie Geraldine Zberro, Paris, France
Art Whino Gallery, Washington DC
Fabien Castanier Gallery, Los Angeles, CA