At 83 years old, Filipina artist Phyllis Zaballero layers the old and new in an exhibition at León Gallery International

Notable Filipina artist Phyllis Zaballero has been on the scene since the 1960s. After finishing an associate in arts degree from Marymount College in Paris and Barcelona in 1960. She then returned to the Philippines to finish her bachelor of arts degree in economics in 1965 and her bachelor of fine arts degree, magna cum laude, in 1978, both from the University of the Philippines, where she also taught as a professor at the UP College of Fine Arts.

Her career spans over five decades, marked by her distinctive style that combines Western art techniques with Filipino sensibilities, from striking abstractions to poignant window scenes and tablescapes.

For her latest exhibition at León Gallery International, “Illuminations,” which ran from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5, 2025, Zabllero breathed life into past drawings and mixed media work by combining the old and new. 

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Medieval meets modern

Medieval illumination, the technique Zaballero adopted in this exhibition, originates from the medieval practice of decorating manuscripts with ornate borders, initials, and miniature illustrations. Traditionally, these illuminations were created using gold or silver leaf that would catch light and literally “illuminate” the page. The technique involves elaborate border designs that frame the main work, with bright colors, metallic elements, intricate patterns, and decorative motifs applied layer by layer. 

In Zaballero’s contemporary interpretation, she applied these principles to existing artworks, meticulously drawing new borders that overlay, complement, and enhance the original pieces. Each work now carries two dates: one for the original piece and another for its illuminated transformation.

For example, a brightly-lit fountain scene called “View from La Belle Époque, Aix-en-Provence” is dated 1992 on the sketch, with a surrounding ornate frame dated 2023.

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The work spans various locations from her travels, from tropical beach scenes in the Philippines and park benches in Paris to sunsets at the UP campus, letting these specific moments live forever through the artist’s distinct perspective. 

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The exhibition included pieces featured in her 2025 CD case calendar collection. Started in 2010 as a fundraising project for the Carewell Community and Chosen Children Foundation, these calendars have become a yearly project. The works featured in “Illumination” now decorate the CD case calendars, showcasing the quick sketches turned into finished works, all the while supporting community causes.

At 83 years old, “Illuminations” marked another milestone in Zaballero’s artistic career, demonstrating the artist’s excellence with traditional techniques as well as a vigorous flexibility to reimagine and transform her own practice, bringing fresh perspectives to long-familiar scenes.

León Gallery International presented “Illuminations” from Jan. 23 to Feb. 5, 2025