Ronald Ventura

Ronald Ventura (Filipino, b.1973) was born in Manila, Philippines. In 1993, the artist earned a BFA in Painting from the University of Santo Tomas. After graduating, he worked at the university as an instructor. Ventura had his first solo exhibitions in 2000, called All Souls Day, which was held at the Drawing Room in Makati City, Philippines, and Innerscapes, which was held at the West Gallery Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Since then, Ventura has continued to refine his signature style of multi-layered paintings, which utilize a broad range of imagery and tend to focus around the human form. In addition to paintings, Ventura also makes sculptures that explore the same themes and aesthetics as his two-dimensional works. In 2001, he received the Artist of the Year prize from Art Manilla, and then in 2005, he won the prestigious Ateneo Art Gallery, Studio Residency Grant in Sydney, Australia, for his The Human Study series of graphite works on canvas. He also participated in the Prague Biennale in 2009.

Ventura had his first exhibition in America at Tyler Rollins Fine Art Gallery in New York in 2009; Metaphysics of Skin contained paintings and the Zoomanities sculpture series. The same gallery hosted his A Thousand Islandsshow in 2011. That same year, Ventura’s Greyhound sold for US$1.1 million at Sotheby’s Contemporary Southeast Asian Painting auction in Hong Kong.

source: Artnet
image source: supertouchart

Ronald Ventura - Grayground

Pinoy artist Ronald Ventura’s painting sells for nearly P47 million at Sotheby’s auction.

Renowned Filipino artist Ronald Ventura’s painting "Grayground" has sold for HK$ 8,420,000 or P46,995,832.65 at the Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings auction held on April 4 in Hong Kong.

The graphite, oil, and acrylic on canvas piece, which measures 60 inches by 155 3/4 inches (nearly four meters long), set a new auction record and beat Filipina artist Geraldine Javier’s oil-on-canvas Ella Amo’ Apasionadamente y Fue Correspondida (For She Loved Fiercely, And She is Well Loved), which raked in HK$1,460,000 in an auction last year.

With more than 10 awards to his name, the 37-year-old University of Santo Tomas fine arts graduate is currently the country's top-selling Filipino artist. Venturas have been selling for five- to six-dollar-digits in auction houses abroad. Ventura was named SPOT.ph's No.1 Most Successful Young Visual Artist late last year.

Other Filipino artists whose work was sold at the auction inlcude Ronald Caringal, Lynard Paras, Kiko Escora, Janet Balbarona, Rodel Tapaya, Andres Barrioquinto, Marina Cruz, Arturo Sanchez, Nona Garcia, Jon Jaylo, Danilo E. Dalena, MM Yu, Wawi Navarroza, Onib Olmedo, among others.

source: www.spot.ph 

Biography in brief:

[1973] Born in Manila, Philippines

[1993] Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Painting, University of Sto. Tomas, Philippines

[1993] Instructor, College of Fine Arts & Design, University of Sto. Tomas, Philippines

[2005] ATENEO ART AWARDS Winner Philippines - ATENEO ART GALLERY STUDIO RESIDENCY GRANT SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

[2003] Recipient - 13 ARTISTS AWARD Cultural Center of the Philippines

[2002] JURORS’ CHOICE AWARD Philippine Art Awards Philip Morris

[2001] ARTIST OF THE YEAR Art Manila  Newspaper

[2000] HONORABLE MENTION Metrobank Art Competition

[2000] WINNING ENTRY Y2000 PAP Print Competition

[1999] FINALIST Taiwan International Biennal Print and Drawing Competition

[1999] JURORS’ CHOICE AWARD Windsor & Newton Painting Competition

[1998] FIRST PLACE Lithograph Competition NCCA and PAP - JURORS’ CHOICE AWARD 

[1993] JURORS’ CHOICE AWARD AAP Art Competition

[1992] HONORABLE MENTION Metrobank Art Competition

[1990] FIRST PLACE Shell National Students Art Competition

source: kulay-diwa.com/ronald_ventura

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