Every masterpiece begins with a single stroke, and each stroke carries its own meaning. Some artists paint what they see, while others paint what they feel. Well, Grancinha “Inha” Arceo does both—bringing to life a world where emotions take shape in the form of powerful gestures, vibrant florals, and deeply personal narratives. 

What started as a hobby has evolved into an internationally recognized artistic expression. Starting with her exploration of painting during the pandemic, the Filipina artist has exhibited her work in Monaco and Madrid. Now, she is preparing for a significant milestone—her inaugural solo exhibition in Manila, titled “Break Free.“ 

Taking place from March 31 to April 13 at RiseSpace Art Gallery, this exhibition goes beyond her creative works; it serves as a statement of freedom and authenticity.

Inha Arceo at Madrid Art Exhibit 2024

Breaking free

“In this exhibit, each segment embodies my own personal narrative. I wanted to be able to invite the viewers to rediscover their own personal journeys [and for them] to accept everything beautiful and maybe unlovely about themselves. That will allow them to also break free,” she told Metro.Style. Through her art, Inha dares herself and her audience to step into their truest selves without inhibition.

This theme of liberation is embedded throughout her artwork, where she came to realize to express the whimsical side of her creative brain. “I play with a lot of colors, etc. because I wanted to be able to embody that bold sense of courage, to accept being comfortable in my own skin. So, I feel that each piece is a colorful tribute, and it represents my own growth as an artist as well,” she explained.

For Inha, painting serves as a therapeutic outlet, a space where she can express her emotions and unspoken thoughts without any judgment. She shared, “I feel that creating art is able to promote some sort of mental freedom, which I think is the ability to create without restraint. It also helps reduce my own stresses and anxiety, which in turn also [boosts] my own self-confidence as a person.”

“It's a safe creative space, basically. I feel that art allows anyone to express their own emotions and experiences, especially those that might be challenging to articulate verbally,” Inha added.

Her pieces usually depict themes of escaping from oppressing ideals and wrestling with some of her mental struggles. She finds solace in painting, especially when emotions become overwhelming, saying, “Being honest and vulnerable has really given me my own sense of relief, and I think that is through my artworks.”

Inha describes her art as a series of daily transformations, pressing on that growth often comes from small, gradual changes rather than grand shifts. “It's not really necessarily a big change that happens most of the time. But I think it's these daily micro-changes that I internally go through, where I feel better.”

On her artistic evolution, signature style, and creative process

Inha’s artistic roots run deep. She drew inspiration from the creations of her late great-grandfather and grandfather, both of whom were painters. However, it wasn't until 2020 that she decided to pursue painting seriously.

“I did come from a corporate after 10 years. I was able to establish myself as an artist while doing [corporate work] since 2020. It was only last year that I fully resigned. So, yeah, I was able to establish my own business, and amidst the pandemic, I was able to sell art pieces that champion self-love and authenticity,” she shared.

Five years later, Inha is now a full-time artist and has created around 446 original artworks, including her commissions. What began as a simple pastime soon turned into a thriving career.

When asked to pick a favorite artwork, Arceo hesitated, saying, “It's so hard to choose because every artwork I've done for the exhibit has a different story, or it's like a different phase of myself. It's like if I chose one, it would just be choosing one aspect of myself.”

However, she admitted a special attachment to “Bottled Up Emotions,“ a pre-sold series of pieces. The paintings feature a Filipiniana-clad figure with an expressionless face, but if looked inside, a storm of emotions is bursting to be let out. Indeed, a visual representation of repressed feelings.

The versatile contemporary artist believes she has developed a signature style over the years. “Over the past years, my exploration of themes continues to celebrate powerful human emotions and experiences—most of which are actually personal experiences. Sometimes, I feel like art has become a representation of myself and my mind,” she stated. Characterized by vibrant colors and powerful gestures, her work prominently features expressive female figures, symbolizing self-love, healing, and hope.

Bottled Up Emotion - Ginhawa

Bottled Up Emotion - Alala

Bottled Up Emotion - Lungkot

Bottled Up Emotion - Gulat

“I also do have a vibrant palette when it comes to colors. And it's expressed through my floral artwork, which serves as an expression of positivity and joy,” shared Inha. Sunflowers, in particular, have also played a significant role in many of her artworks. She further stated, “I think it's the color, you know. It's yellow that spoke loudly to me, and it has greatly influenced my work since then.”

Inha acknowledges the importance of storytelling in art: “As for me, values can also turn into really strong stories that people can relate to. I think that's very important, especially since, you know, who buys your art at the end of the day? I guess someone who actually relates [to] you and resonates with the kind of work that you do.”

When prodded about what her creative process looks like, Inha finds herself inspired by the simplicity of everyday life, with women and flowers often appearing as central themes in her art. She feels these subjects resonate deeply, allowing her to express her emotions and create a universal bond with her audience.

“I feel that people are able to resonate with my own work in that aspect. I guess they're able to cope with themselves. Sometimes, I get comments like, ‘Oh, I feel better looking at your art. Thank you,’ so, it gives me a lot of encouragement as well as an artist,” she beamed.

“I'm also inspired with how, again, I'm able to help people feel better with my art because more than the motivation, I think it makes me sort of create more like magic, especially through art. I feel that I'm able to fulfill my own sense of purpose,” she added.

Inha primarily works with acrylics, using brushwork to create expressive textures. She also experiments with watercolors for commissioned pieces and incorporates digital tools like the Gelli pad and her iPad to expand her artistic techniques.

International recognition, life lessons, and future aspirations

Inha’s journey has taken her across the world through group exhibitions in Monaco and Madrid.

“The Monaco International Art Fair is actually one of the biggest art fairs in all of Europe. It was held last August 2024. The artworks that were exhibited of mine were digitally exhibited—most from my self-love inspirational artwork collection,” she recalled.

In Madrid, she participated in a contemporary exhibit featuring artists from different countries last year in October. “This was where I was exposed to different artists and art collectors as well as diplomatic representatives from various institutions that are connected to the international scene of things.”

Exposure to international art scenes has influenced her current work: “That is why I think in terms of perspective, I was able to develop more openness to kinds of styles that I wanted to introduce into my current exhibit this coming March 31. It was a learning experience for me and definitely an eye-opener.”

Her piece, “General Luna, Siargao,“ a four-foot-by-four-foot acrylic painting, was a highlight of her international exhibits. The artwork, deeply rooted in Filipino culture and identity, garnered attention and led to multiple commissions on her end.

“I wanted to showcase more Filipino artwork in the contemporary international scene, which, for me, excites a lot of Europeans. I mean, I would quote, my Spanish curators abroad would tell me, ‘Every time there's a Filipino artist, people would go crazy for some reason over their art.’ So, it's good news for us. I'm very proud to be Filipino,” she said, adding the idea that it is not just about selling more art but more about representing the country.

Inha credits her peers in the art industry as key influences in her career. Through conversations with fellow artists—many of whom have more experience in the exhibit world—she has gained valuable insights into navigating the complexities of the art scene. More than professional relationships, these interactions have evolved into genuine friendships, creating a supportive network that fosters artistic growth.

General Luna, Siargao

Filipina - Buhat (WIP)

Filipina - Kwento (WIP)

“I've had some colleagues that I usually talk to. They're also artists, and they obviously have more experience than me when it comes to the exhibit world, but I became really great friends with them. Some of them are very down-to-earth, and I also learn from their own experiences, which is really nice to have,” she shared.

Beyond peer mentorship, she has also benefited from the guidance of gallery curators. She highlights the impact of being exposed to curators not only in the Philippines but also abroad. A pivotal experience was her trip to Madrid, Spain, where she had the opportunity to interact with professionals from different artistic backgrounds.

“Being exposed to multiple curators with different kinds of art styles, for example, has really shaped my outlook when it comes to the ideation of my concepts and exhibits, which actually takes a lot of work,” she noted.

One of the biggest misconceptions about artists, Inha explained, is that executing a piece is the most challenging part. In reality, she thinks conceptualization is often the more difficult and time-consuming process.

Sunflower Dance

Sunflower Ladies

Flora

She also values feedback from her collectors. Coming from a marketing background, she understands the importance of client feedback and sees it as an essential element of her artistic development. “I value client feedback. You know, the client is king. I love hearing honest and critical feedback as well because I think they're the ones who appreciate your art, they buy it from you, etc. So, it's also a good learning to creatively challenge [myself] to grow,” she divulged.

Looking ahead, Inha has clear goals in mind. The Filipina artist wishes to expand in the local scene, join more group exhibits and competitions, and mount more solo shows. Internationally, she dreams to represent Filipino contemporary art in more European exhibits, eyeing to showcase her artworks in prestigious institutions like the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain, or New York.

Her favorite museum? The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. “I've been to the Netherlands maybe, like, four or five times and always end up there. I mean, Amsterdam or the Netherlands, they're also known for exhibiting a lot of contemporary artists and I feel [and] think that my art would fit well in that museum.”

While painting is her full-time career, Inha is immersed in the business side of art, selling prints and limited-edition merchandise. She also creates content for brands. On top of that, she practices jiu-jitsu, a martial art she describes as both physically and mentally engaging.

As for her most valuable advice for aspiring artists, she remarked, “Find your own creative voice or signature style. That’s how you carve your niche in the art world.”

“There will always be that particular or specific reason why people will resonate with your work. And it's really because of how they're able to relate with who you really are, as an artist, and your values,” Inha expressed.

Photos courtesy of Inha Arceo