Pacita Abad

 October 2024 - Toronto ON

We were blown away by the the work of Pacita Abad at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) this week.

Political activist, world traveller, and scuba diver — the life of late Philippine-born artist Pacita Abad (1946 - 2004) was as colourful as the art she created.  

The fifth child of 13, Abad was born in 1946 in Batanes, the smallest and northernmost Philippine province. Her life and art, however, were anything but small. Her works were bold and unapologetic, challenging Western art ideals and exposing colonial subjugation across the Global South.  

Now on view at the AGO, Pacita Abad marks the artist’s first retrospective and the Canadian debut of her work. First presented at The Walker Art Center, the exhibition features over 100 works showcasing Abad’s range in mediums, studio ephemera, and an archive of materials she used in her practice.  

 As you take in Abad’s grandeur and exuberant works alongside her extensive personal lore, you may be surprised to learn that her work was largely under-appreciated during her time and even after her passing. As we welcome Abad’s work to Canada for the first time at the AGO, here are five of Abad’s most interesting accomplishments.