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

Provenance: Private Collection, USA

ABOUT THE WORK

“Filipino in context, color, and flavor” is perhaps the description best fitted for the art of Angelito Antonio. His oeuvres are his way of celebrating the different cultural aspects of the Philippines. Antonio was born into a family of farmers who live in Malolos, Bulacan. Thus, as a fine artist, his paintings are mostly inspired by day-to-day life and the rich culture of the province. His subjects are often folk figures such as vendors, cockfighters, ice cream peddlers, and balloon sellers. For the lot at hand, the muse is a fruit vendor. The art of Antonio explores a twist on figurative expression. And, this oil-on-wood panel piece rendered in his NascentCubist aesthetic displays a mixture of abstract forms and lines with a variety of vibrant colors, which shows his mastery of form and rhythmic order. Indeed, he was able to craft 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. (P.I.R.)