"Bloomera" by Francis Nacion

"Bloomera" by Francis Nacion

Watercolor and Soft Pastel on Paper, 8" x 6", 2026 

About the Artist:

Francis Nacion is known for his stylized figurative paintings distinguished by half-rendered visages, vibrant chromatic fields, and his signature sgraffito technique. Centered on iconic representations of Filipina women—mothers, workers, and allegorical figures of abundance—his works reinterpret archetypes of Filipino life through a contemporary lens. Drawing from popular imagery such as courtship, harvest, and maternal devotion, Nacion constructs dreamlike tableaux where memory and aspiration converge, and where tradition is both preserved and reimagined. The partially obscured faces of his subjects evoke the tension between public and private selves, while the intricate detailing of garments and surroundings recalls the ornamental richness of Filipino craft traditions. A former apprentice of Fernando Sena and member of the Saturday Group of Artists, Nacion has exhibited widely in selected group exhibitions locally and abroad and is regarded as a distinctive voice in contemporary Philippine figurative painting.