Katrina Cuenca’s art, with its graceful, “petal-like abstract figurations,” is a celebration of light and happiness. Yet, as her latest solo exhibit, “Elysian,” opens at Art Lounge Manila, we discover that the seemingly tranquil works are born from a deeply personal journey of healing and resilience.

Katrina revealed that her signature style, characterized by “very flowy figures” and bright palettes, began as a way to process grief after the passing of her mother. “I found peace in painting how I wanted to feel,” she shares. “That has been the foundation of my art since it was my tribute to her.” This foundation gives her work a powerful underlying essence that has remained constant even as her style has evolved.

Her paintings are like portals to a world both remembered and imagined anew. This idea aligns with her mission as an artist. “The intention behind my work is always to give its viewers a feeling of peace and happiness,” she explains. For her, creating happy images is a deliberate act, “a conscious choice to turn my back on all the darkness and negativity from my past, with the goal of protecting my peace moving forward.” This proactive approach to finding and sharing tranquility is what makes her art so compelling.

For “Elysian,” Katrina has taken her materials to new heights. The exhibit’s works shimmer with light, partly due to her experiment with glass. “It is a very elegant and interesting material to work with,” she says, noting that it requires “so much patience and respect for the process. This new medium to her works added a layer of luminosity.

As a self-taught artist, Katrina’s path to success was not without its challenges. She openly admits that her lack of formal art education was a major insecurity. But this initial disadvantage became her greatest asset. “I had to get creative and create the opportunity for myself instead of waiting for one to come up,” she recalls.

This resourcefulness, which she calls “the lessons and grit that I earned while paying my dues,” led to some very unconventional ventures. In 2012, she even paid a gallery ₱3,500 just to show one of her paintings at a major art fair. This determination culminated in a successful group exhibit she and her husband organized in 2016, which included 40 artists and was held at a condominium. “It was my ticket,” she says.

Katrina’s creative process reflects her spontaneous spirit. She doesn’t follow a strict schedule, as “creativity comes in waves.” Instead, she keeps multiple notebooks for ideas and has cabinets filled with various materials, from beads to crystals, that she can play with. “I need days where I do something outside of what I normally make,” she says.

Katrina Cuenca’s “Elysian” exhibit offers more than just beautiful paintings. It is a glimpse into an artist’s personal paradise, a luminous world she built for herself and now, for us. It is on view at Art Lounge Manila - Molito Lifestyle Center until Sept. 29, 2025.