“The Virgin” by Michael Velasco
From November 10 to December 4, Mario’s Restaurant located along 191 Tomas Morato corner Scout Gandia, Quezon City presents the works of artist Michael Velasco in a one-man exhibit entitled ‘Grace, Elegance and Humanity.’ A painter, muralist and portraitist, Velasco has long held a fascination for the female form. His featured works in the exhibit are portraits of women done in oil and gold leaf on canvas. The “Lovelorn Muse” shows a female in repose against a gold leaf background, her profile drenched with light, her bosom overflowing amid folds of fabrics in both light and rich, red wine hues.
“After Reherseals” by Micheal Velasco
“After Rehearsals” captures a ballerina from a top shot, her body bent over, hair tightly tied in a bun, her tutu spread around her, a silk shoe showing at the edge, her hands folded at her ankles; all this amid a gold leaf background. Another ballerina ties her shoes with light streaming through her seemingly ethereal tutu in a piece entitled “Pointe Shoes.”
His last piece, titled “The Virgin”, shows a woman with her back towards the viewer, a piece of fabric draped loosely around her with a clever play of black and gray tones on her skin.
Left: “The Lovelorn Muse”; right: “Pointe Shoes” By Michael Velasco
Velasco finds inspiration in the work of a plethora of past and present masters like Waterhouse, Klimt, Sargeant, Bougereau, Degas, Whistler Stewart, Juan Luna, Jeremy Lipking, Daniel Greene and Scott Burdick.
After the exhibit at Mario’s, Velasco will bring his work to Europe, starting with an exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland. Then it’s on to Venice, Italy with a swing through Rome, Florence and Milan. Barcelona and Madrid are the next stops, then Paris, France and finally to Amsterdam, The Netherlands before coming back to Manila.
For more information on this exhibit, visit or call Mario’s at 372-0360 or 415-3887 for reservations. Mario’s is open 7am to 11pm from Mondays to Sundays.
