Chacha Garcia is a visual artist & sculptor from the Philippines. She loves color, shape, texture and innovating on the properties of materials.

She specializes in creating meaningful works of fine art inspired by the effects of light in and around us that point to joy and hope amidst the world’s darkness.

Humble Beginnings
From her first crayons with which she drew her lola (grandma) at the sewing machine and her first lump of papier mache to form an animal, Chacha knew art would be her life. The bulk of her childhood Saturdays and summers were devoted to informal art classes so much so that her formal school teachers would consult her regarding the art projects they would teach! But by the time she set her sights towards college, she thought it was wiser & more responsible of her to be a licensed professional such as an architect, out of fear of becoming “a starving artist” in a Third World setting. She rationalized it would be a more awesome experience and financially sound endeavor to create designs that enabled viewers to walk through a piece of art rather than just hang it on a wall.

In 1978, Chacha was sponsored for an academic year at Modesto Junior College in California for BS Architecture, interrupting her freshman year at the University of the Philippines under the same course. Enriched by that experience and back in Manila, she finished strong with her thesis for graduation entitled “Center for Appropriate Architecture” which featured the use of bamboo as an alternative building material. The thesis project was the key that opened the door for employment with the late National Artist for Architecture Francisco (Bobby) Manosa. After a couple of years at the Planning Department, she sorely missed fashioning materials with her own hands, and the immediate satisfaction of directly manipulating media… that Chacha literally went through an identity crisis!

A Fresh Start
Married and with a daughter, Chacha embarked on a new artistic season in 1988 this time using polyester resin as art medium. Why resin? She had always wanted to blow glass but since this technology is not readily available locally, she innovates by harnessing the transparent property of cured resin to create her own translations of glass without the tonnage of glass. Chacha learned to fabricate her own molds, capturing forms and textures in nature. She sculpts pieces from clay positives or builds from composites. It’s a long, tedious and labor intensive process to achieve the luster of glass, but she loves the idea of communicating the concept of “looking beyond”. In time, she learned to elevate a lowly industrial material into an art form, finding the extraordinary in the mundane.

Resume

As Homeschool Mom & Teacher
2020 – 2022 Online Art Teacher, Preschool – 9th Grade
2010 – 2014 Art Teacher, 2nd – 9th Grade Homeschoolers,
The Masters Academy, CCF Pasig
2007 – 2019 Homeschooled youngest son Carlos, K – 10

Employment
1990 – 2001 Self-employed at her studio
1988 – 1989 Design House Asia of Bea Zobel
1985 – 1987 Docey Lewis Designs
1983 – 1985 Francisco Manosa and Partners

Education
2023 – 2024 Catalyst Program, Arts & Entertainment Institute
1977 – 1983 BS Architecture, University of the Philippines
1977 – 1978 BS Architecture, Modesto Junior College, CA, USA

Exhibits
1998 Group Show, Christ’s Commission Fellowship, Pasig City
1996 Consumed By the Light, First Solo Exhibit, Ayala Museum

Honors / Awards
1971 Silver Cup, International Children’s Art Competition,
(German Group)
1970 Silver Cup, International Children’s Art Competition,
(German Group)
1969 2nd and First Honorable Mention, First Marikina Art
Competition, Marikina, Rizal
1968 2nd place, Shankar International Children’s Art
Competition