Are women’s art forms taken seriously?
March is Women’s Month, but many forms of women’s art are still seen as hobbies.
Beadwork, decorative pieces, and soft, feminine themes are often admired but not always respected as fine art.
When I visited the Canvas Collective Season 6 at Madison Galeries Alabang, presented by Flying Circus Gallery Works, I found myself asking a simple question.
What happens when women choose to show their work boldly?
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Meeting Women Artists at Canvas Collective Season 6
What made this contemporary art exhibit in Alabang meaningful was not just the artwork. It was the women behind each piece.
Each artist carried her own story. Each one expressed femininity in a different way.
✨ Amber: Elevating Beadwork Art in the Philippines
Amber’s work caught my attention right away. Her diamond paintings and beadwork celebrate the female body with detail and intention.
What stood out most was her decision to present them as fine art, not as décor or a side craft.
Her piece, inspired by Fernando Amorsolo, demonstrated how traditional Filipino art can blend with modern feminine expression. She was also warm and approachable, supported by her family.
That detail mattered. It reminded me that women are often supported quietly behind the scenes.
About the Artist:
Florianne “Amber” Aquino is a hobbyist who turns quiet, idle moments into meaningful art through cross-stitch and diamond painting. After being diagnosed with stage 3 endometrial cancer, what started as a simple hobby became a deeper passion. Today, she creates each piece with intention and shares her work to inspire others to see beauty in every moment.
Amber shows that beadwork art in the Philippines deserves space in galleries.
🍩 May: Joy, Romance, and Feminine Expression
May’s paintings felt light and joyful the moment I saw them. Scenes of a donut shop, an ice cream corner, and a coffee space made me smile instantly.
But beneath the joy was something deeper. Her work also explored emotion and desire.
- A man holding a woman in a dance
- A woman stretching across frames
- Movement that felt expressive and alive
Her art invites women to embrace joy, romance, and emotional freedom.
About the Artist:
MAYPAL is a storyteller at heart, exploring narratives through vibrant and whimsical paintings that invite viewers to imagine the stories beyond each frame. Alongside these imagined worlds, her dance pieces capture expressive lines and fleeting gestures, where the body speaks what words cannot. Using a modern naïve style, she combines bold colours, simple forms, and playful proportions to create art that feels both light and meaningful
🐢 Nica: Balance, Elegance, and Symbolism
Nica’s work felt calm and refined. She drew inspiration from the yin-yang concept, in which two elements move in harmony.
This idea connects with Feng Shui, where balance and flow shape both space and life.
Her turtle artwork resonated with me, gently suggesting that slow progress can turn into something as precious as pearls. It showed patience, creativity, and quiet strength, while her flora-and-fauna themes added elegance to each piece.
About the Artist:
Nica, also known as Yao T Yao T., is a visual artist based in Dasmariñas, Cavite. Her creative journey began in childhood through drawing, storytelling, and imaginative design, which continue to shape her work today.
With a background in Education and as a Licensed Professional Teacher, she brings structure, empathy, and reflection into her art. Her pieces often explore quiet emotions, personal growth, faith, and meaningful everyday moments.
Her work reflects how women can hold both strength and softness at the same time.
🧵 Agnes: A Filipina Artist Honouring Identity
One of the first artists I met focused on Filipina identity. She incorporated elements like bayong or handwoven bags into her work.
Her art felt rooted in culture, but her story made it even more powerful. She spoke about joining exhibits, showing up, and inviting people to see her art. That stayed with me.
About the Artist:
Agnes Meliza Azul-Bes holds an Architecture degree from the University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi, though her true calling has always been in the arts. A self-taught painter, designer, and crafter since childhood, she built her early career at a sterling silver jewelry export company before moving into resin fashion accessories as an R&D head.
When family life called for a pivot, she launched her own craft business, earning features in local magazines for her work with paper textures and personalized handcrafted invite designs.
Women artists in the Philippines are not only creating. They are learning to be seen.
🌷 What This March Exhibit Revealed
While this was not exclusively a Women’s Month exhibit, experiencing it in March gave me a different lens.
It allowed me to notice and appreciate the presence, voice, and expression of women artists in the space.
This exhibit gave me more than inspiration. It gave me clarity.
Women are not just creating for themselves anymore. They are showing up, sharing their stories, and taking space.
Here’s what stood out to me:
- Women are redefining what feminine art can look like
- Creative work is no longer being hidden or minimised
- Expression is becoming more honest and visible
In the middle of it all, I also found myself reflecting on my own work.
Through my collections—Vessels, Attraction from Relationship Geometry, and Becoming—I explore quiet, reflective spaces that invite deeper thought and emotion.
Each piece asks a question and connects moments that are often felt but not always spoken.
What are you holding right now? What are you becoming?
Learn more about my collections and my debut at Canvas Collective Season 6. (Read here)
🌼 Visit Canvas Collective Season 6 at Madison Galeries Alabang
If you plan to visit the exhibit, here are a few simple tips:
- Take your time with each artwork
- Talk to the artists when possible
- Support Filipino women artists by sharing or purchasing their work
- Reflect on what each piece makes you feel
For available artworks, you may contact Flying Circus Gallery Works or visit Madison Galeries Alabang from March 14-23, 2026.
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