Born on June 4, 1942, in Guimbal, Iloilo, Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi is one of the most globally accomplished printmakers and visual artists in Philippine art history. After pursuing comprehensive dual degrees in fine arts and humanities in Manila, she secured prestigious international training opportunities that embedded her in the historic art circles of Rome and New York.
Gelvezon-Tequi has lived and worked in France for several decades, creating work from her studio in the rural historic village of Limeuil while maintaining a monumental influence back home. She has formerly shared her deep theoretical knowledge by teaching art history, printmaking, and book design at the University of the Philippines, and has served as the Director for the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP).
Education & Fellowships:
1964: Bachelor of Fine Arts – University of the Philippines Diliman
1966: Bachelor of Arts in English – University of the Philippines Diliman
1967: Diploma in Painting – Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, Italy
1968: Special Studies in Graphic Arts – Pratt Institute, New York City, USA (Under a prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Scholarship)
Major Awards & Distinctions:
2014: Pamana ng Pilipino Award – Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas
2002: Michiko Takamatsu Prize & Lucien and Suzanne Jonas Prize – Salon des Artistes Français, Paris
1983: Selected Overseas Research Grantee (Low-firing ceramics study) – Spain
1982: Gold Medal for Printmaking – 35th Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) Annual Art Competition
1972: Named a recipient of the highly coveted Thirteen Artists Award by the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)—making history as the first female artist inducted into the prestigious vanguard roster.
Selected Solo Exhibitions & Retrospectives:
Gelvezon-Tequi has mounted over 30 celebrated solo exhibitions across major cultural capitals, including Manila, Paris, New York City, and Monaco.
2020: Allegories and Realities: Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi in Retrospect – Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). A milestone exhibition featuring over 200 historical masterworks spanning five decades.
2018: Shifts in Context – National Museum of Fine Arts, Manila, Philippines
2015: The Philippine Madonna Series – The Crucible Gallery, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
2012: Ofelia Gelvezón-Téqui: Paintings & Prints – Bulwagan ng Dangal University Heritage Museum, UP Diliman
1985: The Graphic Works of Ofelia Gelvezon-Téqui – Institutional Solo Survey at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and UP Visayas (Iloilo)
Global Group Survey Exhibitions:
Her prints and canvases have consistently represented the pinnacle of Southeast Asian graphic arts in numerous global group presentations since 1968, including prominent showcases in Tokyo, London, Berlin, Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Tel Aviv, Florence, Rome, Munich, Angers, Bradford, Coruña, and Sao Paulo.
Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi Retrospective Virtual Tour
This video provides a guided virtual walkthrough of her definitive career retrospective at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, showcasing over five decades of her masterworks.
