The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) has announced the recipients of the 2024 Thirteen Artists Awards (TAA), recognizing thirteen visual artists for their contributions to contemporary Philippine art.
The awardees are Catalina Africa, Denver Garza, Russ Ligtas, Ella Mendoza, Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan, Issay Rodriguez, Luis Antonio Santos, Joshua Serafin, Jel Suarez, Tekla Tamoria, Derek Tumala, Vien Valencia, and Liv Vinluan.
Now in its 54th year, the triennial TAA highlights innovative Filipino artists who have reshaped and strengthened artmaking in the country, continuing the legacy of CCP Museum’s founding curator, Roberto Chabet.
Raymundo Albano, the subsequent director of the CCP Museum and Non-Theater Operations, transformed the CCP TAA into the awards program recognized by the Filipino arts community today. From 1970 to 1980, the TAA was held every two years. It continued in 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994. After a short hiatus, the TAA was revived in 2000 and transitioned into its current triennial format.
This year’s awardees were carefully selected out of 108 nominations through a meticulous and rigorous evaluation process, which began when the nominations opened in May 2024. The CCP Visual Arts and Museum Division (CCP VAMD) received 82 submissions from various art groups, museum and gallery directors and curators, art critics, art educators, and former Thirteen Artists Awardees, from all over the Philippines.
The selection committee, consisting of Phyllis Zaballero ( Thirteen Artists 1978), Antipas Delotavo (Thirteen Artists 1990), Buen Calubayan (Thirteen Artists 2009), Wawi Navarroza (Thirteen Artists 2012), and CCP VAMD officer-in-charge Rica Estrada Uson, reviewed the nominees’ portfolios.
The selection committee assessed nominees based on artistic innovation, integrity, and engagement with contemporary themes, ensuring they had a track record of sustained activity through individual and group exhibitions. The 13 awardees were chosen for their artistic excellence and potential to shape the future of Philippine art, demonstrating CCP’s commitment to nurturing exceptional local talent.
The 13 awardees of the 2024 Thirteen Artists Awards include a diverse group of innovative artists.
Catalina Africa is a multidisciplinary artist who explores shapeshifting and earth channeling through various media, drawing inspiration from the natural landscape.
Denver Garza, a former mental health worker, uses his art to examine identity, beliefs, and social dynamics, blending the psychosocial with physical media.
Cebu-born Russ Ligtas delves into the Filipino body as a mythological and historical artifact through alter egos.
Ceramic artist Ella Mendoza evolved from creating functional wares to producing conceptual sculptures and installations.
Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan uses prints and drawings to explore Philippine history and material culture.
Issay Rodriguez focuses on humanism, ecology, and emotional expression through art and technology.
Luis Antonio Santos examines memory and identity through paintings, photography, and image manipulation.
Joshua Serafin, a multidisciplinary artist, explores transmigration, queer politics, and Filipino identity through performance and visual art.
Self-taught artist Jel Suarez reinterprets visual phenomena through collage, using natural found objects.
Tekla Tamoria draws inspiration from diverse sources, including costume design and fractal patterns, to create her textile works.
Derek Tumala blends science, nature, and emerging technologies to explore interconnectedness in his art.
Vien Valencia challenges traditional archiving methods through community-focused, time-based art projects.
Liv Vinluan investigates the history, death, and the passage of time through her artwork.
For more information about the CCP Thirteen Artists Awards, visit the Thirteen Artists website (thirteenartists.culturalcenter.gov.ph), the CCP website (www.culturalcenter.gov.ph), and follow the official CCP and CCP VAMD social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and YouTube.
