León Gallery wishes to thank Mr. Marcel Antonio for confirming the authenticity of this lot

Provenance: Art Gallery Philippines

ABOUT THE WORK

Angelito Antonio was born into a family of farmers who live in Malolos, Bulacan. His art is mostly inspired by dayto-day life and the rich culture of the Filipinos. “Mang Lito,” a nickname he is sometimes called, and his wife, Norma Belleza, share the same penchant for the folk genre. His subjects are often folk figures such as vendors, cockfighters, and musicians. For the lot at hand, he decided to depict a classic motif, the Mother and Child. “Filipino in context, color, and flavor” is perhaps the description best fitted for the art of Antonio. Earlier in his career as a fine artist, his style leaned towards monochromatic colors of black and white. He later developed his artistic identity through the inclusion of stylized representation and color schemes into his works. Always devoted to dynamic expression, Antonio is rightly regarded as one of the notable pillars of Philippine modern art. He crafted an aesthetic that has allowed him to maintain his practice for over 50 years, exhibiting both here and abroad. Antonio became a recipient of the Thirteen Artist Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1970. (Isabella Romarate)