Ian Castañeda
Ian Castañeda is a Filipino artist based in Toronto. He had a proclivity for art and capturing beauty onto a canvas ever since his formative years. This keen interest was nurtured by his love for history and by the ubiquitous religious art in his home country. He relentlessly improves his skills as a self-taught artist as he explores different styles and materials in his portrayal of the human figure and his signature subject: paper. He first exhibited his works in 2015 at Deutsche Bank in Manila. He participated in various group shows and in 2017, his works were shown in ManilArt, the longest-running art fair in the Philippines. He continued to produce and show works until he immigrated to Canada in 2020.
Ian's paintings of paper are about appreciating beauty in imperfection. He creates sculptural compositions through the folds, creases, and wrinkles of the paper. By looking at it in a different light, we can discover fascinating lines, shapes, and forms. Thus, that simple piece of crumpled paper is not trash, but rather it can be considered a thing of beauty. Using oil paint to render the patterns formed by the wrinkles and creases, he gives life to the varied figures he finds within a piece of paper. The abstract quality of the folds allows a myriad of themes to unfold before the viewer's eyes.
Group Exhibitions:
2023 - Propeller Art Gallery, “YOUPHORIA: A Pride Showcase”, Toronto, Canada.
2023 - Elaine Fleck Gallery, “Elaine Fleck Fine Art Exhibition”, Toronto, Canada.
2019 – Othello, “I give you My Art 4”, Taguig City, Philippines.
2019 – Othello, “Windows”, Makati, Philippines.
2018 – Othello, “I Give You My Art 3”, Makati, Philippines.
2018 – J Studio, “Unnatural 4”, Makati City, Philippines.
2018 – Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, “Flawless”, Quezon City, Philippines
2018 – Art Elements Asian Gallery, “June Elements”, Taguig City, Philippines.
2018 – vMEME Contemporary Art Gallery, “Verse to Form”, Muntinlupa City, Philippines.
2018 – vMEME Contemporary Art Gallery, “A Malady of Sorts”, Pasig City, Philippines.
2017 – Art Space at Deutsche Bank, “Differences II”, Taguig City, Philippines.
2015 – Art Space at Deutsche Bank, “Appreciating in Art in Deutsche Bank”, Taguig City, Philippines.
Art Fairs:
2023 - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Toronto, Canada
2021 - UPIS Art Fair 2021, vMEME Contemporary Art Gallery, Quezon City, Philippines.
2020 – Art in the Park, vMEME Contemporary Art Gallery, Makati City, Philippines.
2019 – Art in the Park, vMEME Contemporary Art Gallery, Makati City, Philippines.
2018 – ManilArt18, vMEME Contemporary Art Gallery, Taguig City, Philippines.
2018 – Art in the Park, vMEME Contemporary Art Gallery, Makati City, Philippines.
2017 – ManilArt17, vMEME Contemporary Art Gallery, Taguig City, Philippines.