Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi

Ofelia Gelvezon-Tequi (born June 4, 1942) is a Filipina visual artist based in France. She works primarily in the media of painting and printmaking and is considered a pioneer in Philippine printmaking. Her prints are created using copper-plate etching and viscosity color printing techniques.

Early life and education Gelvezon-Tequi was born June 4, 1942, in Guimbal, Iloilo, Philippines. Her family moved around during her childhood due to her father's employment in the Philippine Army. During her childhood she lived in Paco, Iloilo, and Lucena. She continued her education at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, earning a diploma in painting in 1967.

Artistic style and works Many of Gelvezon-Tequi's works explore women's central and varied roles in society

Gelvezon-Tequi has also spoken about the importance the concept of justice and giving voice to the voiceless plays in her art. Some of her pieces are blatantly political, including one depicting a former Philippine president wearing a virtual reality headset, oblivious to the impoverished material reality faced by the woman and children who stand nearby, in the background. A set of 1987 highly-political triptychs entitled Homage to Ambrogio Lorenzetti, Homage II to Ambrogio Lorenzetti, and Homage III to Ambrogio Lorenzetti contrasts the virtues of benevolent rulers, good governments, and the social prosperity these create with the vices of tyrannical leaders, their dysfunctional governments, and the dystopian social situations created as a result.

Gelvezon-Tequi described her printmaking as an improvisatory process in which the artist encountered visual surprises which, then, guide them in certain directions. Of this process she explained: "You have to be humble and accept that you cannot control everything. Sometimes, it turns out better than what you have planned before."

She has taught art history, printmaking, and book design at the University of the Philippines as well as served as Director for the Art Association of the Philippines. 2002 Contemporary Filipino Artists, The Foreign Correspondents' Club, Hong Kong 2000-2002 Faith and the City: A Survey of Contemporary Filipino Art, Earl Lu Gallery Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore; National Art Gallery of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; ABN AMRO House, Georgetown, Malaysia; The Art Center, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Manila, Philippines 1996 The CCP at the MET, Metropolitan Museum of Manila 1972 Thirteen Artists, Cultural Center of the Philippines

Awards 2002 Michiko Takamatsu Prize, Salon des Artistes Français 2014 Pamana ng Pilipino Award 2002 Lucien and Suzanne Jonas Prize, Salon des Artistes Français, Paris 1982 Art Association of the Philippines, gold medal for printmaking 1972 Thirteen Artists Award, Cultural Center of the Philippines