After 23 years as the creative force behind Coly Enterprises, supplying footwear to Artwork stores nationwide, Naomi Banal is reclaiming her place in the Philippine art scene with a newfound sense of dating. The Marikina-based artist has traded the fast-paced world of retail research and development for the meditative process of the canvas. In her latest exhibit, the “Obsidian Series,” Naomi applies the same love for experimentation that defined her career in the shoe industry to a radical new medium: the complexity of monochromatic layering. For Naomi, this series is all about the power of taking risks and the discovery of beauty in the most fundamental of colors.

Moving away from the translucent lyrical explosions of color that defined her previous solo shows like “Endless Possibilities,” Naomi has turned her gaze toward the ultimate enigma: the color black. The “Obsidian Series” is all about black-on-black, a deliberate challenge where form is dictated by shadow and presence is felt through quietude.

The art of risk

For an artist known for a scintillating personality and vibrant palettes, choosing a monochromatic path was a gamble.

“The combination of a dark color palette alongside the shaped canvas was definitely a risk considering it stood out in the local art scene,” Naomi shares. “But it was a risk I was willing to take head-on. If I did not take the risk, I would not have discovered that layering black on the other shades of black worked well.”

Naomi’s days spent in research and development, pushing boundaries of shapes and textures, have clearly informed her current practice. In the exhibit, she translates that love for experimentation into canvases that defy the standard rectangle, opting instead for organic-shaped structures that feel like they are breathing

Elegance in the absence of color

One doesn’t simply see Naomi’s exhibit, one experiences it. In pieces like “Black Opulence III” and “Black Opulence VI,” the artist proves that black is far from somber.

The works function like a visual whisper. Through subtle variations in tone, matte meeting gloss, charcoal depth meeting obsidian sheen, the overlapping forms unfold gradually. As the viewer moves, light glides across acrylic layers, revealing hidden movements and understanding power. There is a tactile quality to the depth. The drips, crooked lines, and organic shapes that Naomi purposefully retains are not flaws, but the very soul of the exhibit.

“I wanted to show that there are different tones and shades in such a color, allowing for a color palette very much unique to what I have used in the past. It was the complexity of a color so often overlooked that I wanted the viewer of my work to capture it.

Joy in the chaos

Now in her 50s and enjoying what she calls early retirement, Naomi’s return to the art scene is marked by a sense of gratitude. The “Obsidian Series” serves as a metaphor for her current stage of life: finding beauty in imperfection and peace in the midst of a chaotic world.

While the palette may be dark, the energy is anything but. The collection, particularly the big pieces that match her own tall stature, exudes a sense of quiet luxury and unspeakable joy. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of colors, there is light to be found, provided one is willing to look closely enough.

“Obsidian Series,” presented by Art Lounge Manila, will be at the Art Fair Philippines 2026 at Booth 24, Circuit Corporate Tower 1, Makati City, from Feb. 6 to 8, 2026.