Roy Espinosa
Visual Artist
Visual Artist. Arts & Culture advocate. Publisher. Art Show Organizer, Art Curator. Roy Espinosa has competently taken on these responsibilities as founder of The Filipinas Institute for the Advancement of Arts and Culture (FILARTS), a non-stock, non-profit organization primarily conceived to help promote Philippine arts & culture and give the much deserved exposure of Filipino artists, locally and internationally.
Coming out of artistic hibernation in 2015, Roy began publishing the Filipino Artists Magazine as a platform from which emerging artists as well as the masters of Philippine Art can freely profess their artistic and nationalistic stance. With propinquity for timely conception of ideas and connecting with the right people at the right time, the Philippine art scene soon became abuzz and alive as invitations for local and international art shows and events came one after another through the relentless passion and dedication of the man behind FILARTS.
He established himself as a prime-mover in conceiving, facilitating, organizing, and promoting art exhibitions featuring Filipino visual artists in the global art arena. He came to be known as a leading proponent of inter-cultural art exchange projects and art education programs within the Southeast Asian art community.
Roy has received numerous awards and commendations from various institutions in recognition of his invaluable contribution to the cultivation and advancement of Filipino ingenuity and artistry in the field of Philippine Art. He was given an Art Ambassador award in Malaysia by the National Academy of Arts, Culture & Heritage (ASWARA), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is the designated country head representing the Philippines at the Asedas Digital Art Society of Malaysia. More importantly, he was recently appointed as country president representing the Philippines at the prestigious International Art Acts global art organization. Roy has been invited to participate in several international art exhibitions, art camps and symposiums in and around Asia. As a Global Artists Committee of the Asian Art Association, Singapore, he participated as a judge in its annual art competition and conducted the online Tan Tok Seng Hospital Singapore art workshop.
An important aspect of his art advocacy is to give voice to the excellence of Filipino artists in their chosen craft. This he addressed through the publication of several art books which highlighted their artistic endeavors. His recent publication venture ‘Southeast Asian Artists Magazine’ focuses on forging a bridge between the Philippines and its neighboring countries through joint exploration of their unique arts and culture. Reciprocally, he is chosen to be part of two international art books ‘Chengdu Modern Landscape Oil Painting Institute’ published in China, and ‘The Bridge’ published in Malaysia.
As a visual artist, Roy has reinvented himself time and time again in his quest to push boundaries in terms of applying innovations in his artistic output. His artworks may have evolved over time from realism to abstract impressionism, to surreal landscape – but his passion and dedication for the arts remain steadfast and unwavering. As visual artist and art advocate, he stands by his conviction that “art is something that shows not only beauty, but it is also a perfect tool to enhance one’s sensibility and intelligence. Each artwork is a story, a narrative that can bring into the fore the essence of things both ordinary and extraordinary. Furthermore, the artist’s works are but the extension of his heart and soul.”
Roy has finally found his way back home.
