Artist’s Spotlight

Fitz Herrera

Painter

Fitz Herrera’s development as a thinker and an artist was deeply influenced by the contrasting textures of the province and the more urbanized atmosphere of Caloocan, where he later spent his formative years. Initially, he focused on creating figurative pieces, for which he received recognition and even a few notable awards (including third place at the 2004 Metrobank Art Awards).

When Herrera moved towards abstraction, he was finally able to express himself freely; this shift also brought him widespread acclaim. While the names of his works (both historical and artistic) are often hidden beneath the surface, the underlying emotions and perspectives are made abundantly clear through the ferocious yet subdued clashes of color and surface.

Herrera says that he will always draw from his own experiences for his painting, which allows him to capture genuine and moving depictions of the human condition. Focusing on his triumphs, failures, injuries, and passions, he has named exhibitions and individual pieces after these circumstances.His works are always reflections of his life and the times in which he lived them. They are essentially a secret language, the grammar, and the story of which he alone understands. The significance of his own experiences, rather than his surrounding environment, serves as a catalyst for these works and they serve as a testament to his growth as an artist and a person.The distinctive textures and colors of his art are the product of numerous trials and errors he has made during the creative process. In his use of abstraction as a visual language and style, Herrera reveals himself to be a passionate artist who seeks freedom in his expressions.His primary artistic influences were Cy Twombly, the national artist Jose Joya, as well as the deeply felt sense of liberty in the works of Bernardo Paqcuing.