Nica Aquino (b. January 1, 1990) is a multidisciplinary artist & analogue photographer from Los Angeles, CA. She holds a BFA in Photography from the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR & a MA in Visual Culture from the School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom. Her work has been exhibited internationally in Manchester, United Kingdom; Belgrade, Serbia; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and nationally in Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; San Antonio, TX.
Her work reveals place, identity & the cross-cultural experience largely through a photographic lens. Via analogue photography, viewers see through the eyes of a first generation Ilokana-American trying to navigate North American culture & drawing inspiration from the people & places around her, exploring diverse immigrant diasporas & communities in the US & beyond. Most recently, her work has expanded to experiment with textiles, installation, video & sound; examining themes of memory & loss, specifically how we [re]visit/[re]create memories & how different tiers of loss ranging from death to post-colonial melancholia are subconsciously embedded in these memories.
Aside from spending her early adolescence moving between states & continents, Nica grew up within immigrant, working class inner-city neighborhoods on the cusps of Koreatown, Pico-Union & Mid-City, Los Angeles. She is now residing in the Northeast LA community, where she works as a full-time curator.
contact at nica.u.aquino@gmail.com
(photo by A. Reinhardt)
Her work reveals place, identity & the cross-cultural experience largely through a photographic lens. Via analogue photography, viewers see through the eyes of a first generation Ilokana-American trying to navigate North American culture & drawing inspiration from the people & places around her, exploring diverse immigrant diasporas & communities in the US & beyond. Most recently, her work has expanded to experiment with textiles, installation, video & sound; examining themes of memory & loss, specifically how we [re]visit/[re]create memories & how different tiers of loss ranging from death to post-colonial melancholia are subconsciously embedded in these memories.
Aside from spending her early adolescence moving between states & continents, Nica grew up within immigrant, working class inner-city neighborhoods on the cusps of Koreatown, Pico-Union & Mid-City, Los Angeles. She is now residing in the Northeast LA community, where she works as a full-time curator.
contact at nica.u.aquino@gmail.com
(photo by A. Reinhardt)
EDUCATION
2016
-MA with Merit in Contemporary Visual Culture. School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University. Manchester, UK
2013
-BFA Photography. Pacific Northwest College of Art. Portland, OR
2007
-Digital Media & Photography. California State Summer School of the Arts, California Institute for the Arts. Valencia, CA.
WORK
Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
2019 - Present: Lead Curator & Cultural Events Coordinator
2018: Guest Curator
2017 - 2019: Art Educator
2019
-Administrative Assistant. Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
2018 - 2019
-Visitor Services. Marciano Art Foundation. Los Angeles, CA
2016
-Researcher. Living in Future Ecologies Research Group, Manchester, UK
2015 - 2016
-Widening Participation Student Ambassador. Manchester Metropolitan Univeristy. Manchester, UK
2015 - 2016
-International 16 Project Volunteer. International Society of Manchester. Manchester, UK
2014 - 2015
-Musician. Kayamanan Ng Lahi Filipino Folk Arts. Los Angeles, CA
2014
-Freelance Photographer. Sony Pictures. Los Angeles, CA
2013
-Assistant Photo Lab Technician. PNCA. Portland, OR
2012
-Receptionist, Photo Specialist. PNCA Media Resource Center. Portland, OR
2011 - 2013
-PNCA Students of Color Coalition. Portland, OR
2011 - 2013
-Apprentice/Shop Assistant. Modified Screen Printing & Design. Portland, OR
AWARDS
2019
-Artist in Residence, Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts - Los Angeles, CA
-Eastside Arts Initiative Grantee (with CFAER) - Los Angeles, CA
-California Arts Council: Creative California Communities Grantee (with CFAER) - Los Angeles, CA
-Women’s Center For Creative Work Artist Health Grant - Los Angeles, CA
2016
-Women’s Center For Creative Work Artist Health Grant - Los Angeles, CA
2009
-PNCA Entrance Portfolio Award - Portland, OR
2004
-Gear Up Writing Scholarship - Los Angeles, CA
PRESS
2019
-Interview: 'Filipino-American Artist Exhibition Celebrates Araw Ng Mga Patay,' Occidental News. Los Angeles, CA
-Interview: ‘Meet Trailblazer Nica Aquino,’ Voyage LA. Los Angeles, CA
2016
-Review: ‘Reply All, Grosvenor Gallery,’ Corridor8: Contemporary Art and Writing Journal. Manchester, UK
2013
-Review: 'Art Walkin': First Thursday,' Portland Mercury Newspaper Visual Art Review. Portland, OR
LECTURES/PANELS/ARTIST TALKS
2019
-'ARAW NG MGA PATAY: Filipinx-American Artists Celebrate Day of the Dead' Artist Led Walkthrough. Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA.
-'Memory Room' Dinner & Artist Talk at Irenia Restaurant, presented by the Erica Broussard Gallery. Santa Ana, CA
-‘Borders: Representation & Reality,’ Artist Panel. PSU Department of Philosophy. Portland, OR
-Visiting Artist Lecture (Professional Practices Seminar), Pacific Northwest College of Art. Portland, OR
2018:
-'BALAY/BAHAY: Creating Our Home' Artist Led Walkthrough. Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
-’The Starving Artist No More’ Adelante Mujer Latina Conference. Pasadena City College. Pasadena, CA
2016:
-Visiting High School Lecture: Mid-Peninsula High School. Los Angeles, CA
-Intro to Philippine Art, City College of San Francisco. San Francisco, CA
-Filipino-American Heritage, Napa Valley College. Napa Valley, CA
-‘Filipino Family,’ City College of San Francisco. San Francisco, CA
2013:
-’Resistance’ Artist Panel, Place PDX Gallery. Portland, OR
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
-'Memory Room' #2, at Irenia Restaurant, presented by the Erica Broussard Gallery. Santa Ana, CA
2018
-‘Memory Room,’ Annex Gallery at Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
2013
-‘The Best of: Nica Aquino,’ BFA Gallery at Pacific Northwest College of Art. Portland, OR
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
-CFAER's 15th Annual Art Auction. Eagle Rock, CA
-’Borders: Representation & Reality,’ MK Gallery. Portland, OR
-‘Politically Private,’ Guggenheim Gallery. Orange, CA
-‘A Public Collection of the Hidden but Familiar (A Tropikalye Survey),’ Limbo Gallery. Makati City, Philippines
2018
-’Balay/Bahay: Creating Our Home,’ Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
-’And/Or Pt. 2,’ Junior High. Hollywood, CA
-’Dépaysement,’ by Asia Photo Review. Nous Tous Gallery. Los Angeles, CA
-’And/Or,’ Deep End Club. Echo Park, CA
-’Immigration 101: Artists Speak Out,’ Main Gallery at Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
-’Images of Power,’ Freight Gallery. San Antonio, TX
2017
-’Kitakits,’ Pilipino Workers Center. Los Angeles, CA
-’Honoring Our Ancestors,’ Main Gallery at Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
-Manchester-Brazil Collaborative ‘Responder A Todxs,’ Despina Gallery. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
2016
-Manchester-Brazil Collaborative ‘Reply All,’ Grosvenor Gallery. Manchester, UK
-’Territorial Anxiety,’ Grosvenor Gallery. Manchester, UK
2015
-’(Con)testing Ground,’ Twenty Twenty Two Gallery. Manchester, UK
-’The Other ‘I’ in Art,’ Action/Adventure Theater. Portland, OR
2014
-’April Meetings,’ Video & Performance Festival. Belgrade, Serbia
2013
-’Resistance,’ Place PDX Gallery, Portland, OR
2012
-Race Art Exhibition, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Portland, OR
-’Coffee and Nostalgia,’ Gallery 11:11. Portland, OR
-’Exploring Otherness,’ Students of Color Coalition. Higgins Gallery, Portland, OR
-SOCC Group Exhibition, Influx Gallery, Portland, OR
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2019
-'anotherspace: 4 Filipinx-American Artists Transform Space,' Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
-'ARAW NG MGA PATAY: Filipinx-American Artists Celebrate Day of the Dead,' Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
2018
-’Balay/Bahay: Creating Our Home,’ Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
PUBLICATIONS
2019
-Filipino American Artist Directory 2018-2019, Chicago, IL
2017
-{M}aganda Magazine Issue #30 - 'TRIAL', Berkeley, CA
2014
-“Not the Place for a Brown Face,” Broke in Korea, Seoul, South Korea
2012
-Submit Magazine, Portland, OR
2011
-Submit Magazine, Portland, OR
PERFORMANCES WITH KAYAMANAN NG LAHI
2015
-Merrie Monarch Festival Parade. Hilo, Hawai’i
-University of Hawaii Hilo Pilipino Cultural Night. Hilo, Hawai’i
-University of Hawaii Hilo Edutainment. Hilo, Hawai’i
-”MANA" - Music & Dance of the Philippines & Hawai’i, Merrie Monarch Festival Ho’Ike Night, Hilo, Hawai’i
-California State University of Northridge Pilipino Cultural Night. Los Angeles, CA
-”MANA" - Music and Dance of the Philippines & Hawai’i. Aratani Theater. Los Angeles, CA
2014
-”Giving Thanks" Thanksgiving Recital, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Los Angeles, CA
-23rd Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), Los Angeles, CA
2016
-MA with Merit in Contemporary Visual Culture. School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University. Manchester, UK
2013
-BFA Photography. Pacific Northwest College of Art. Portland, OR
2007
-Digital Media & Photography. California State Summer School of the Arts, California Institute for the Arts. Valencia, CA.
WORK
Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
2019 - Present: Lead Curator & Cultural Events Coordinator
2018: Guest Curator
2017 - 2019: Art Educator
2019
-Administrative Assistant. Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
2018 - 2019
-Visitor Services. Marciano Art Foundation. Los Angeles, CA
2016
-Researcher. Living in Future Ecologies Research Group, Manchester, UK
2015 - 2016
-Widening Participation Student Ambassador. Manchester Metropolitan Univeristy. Manchester, UK
2015 - 2016
-International 16 Project Volunteer. International Society of Manchester. Manchester, UK
2014 - 2015
-Musician. Kayamanan Ng Lahi Filipino Folk Arts. Los Angeles, CA
2014
-Freelance Photographer. Sony Pictures. Los Angeles, CA
2013
-Assistant Photo Lab Technician. PNCA. Portland, OR
2012
-Receptionist, Photo Specialist. PNCA Media Resource Center. Portland, OR
2011 - 2013
-PNCA Students of Color Coalition. Portland, OR
2011 - 2013
-Apprentice/Shop Assistant. Modified Screen Printing & Design. Portland, OR
AWARDS
2019
-Artist in Residence, Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts - Los Angeles, CA
-Eastside Arts Initiative Grantee (with CFAER) - Los Angeles, CA
-California Arts Council: Creative California Communities Grantee (with CFAER) - Los Angeles, CA
-Women’s Center For Creative Work Artist Health Grant - Los Angeles, CA
2016
-Women’s Center For Creative Work Artist Health Grant - Los Angeles, CA
2009
-PNCA Entrance Portfolio Award - Portland, OR
2004
-Gear Up Writing Scholarship - Los Angeles, CA
PRESS
2019
-Interview: 'Filipino-American Artist Exhibition Celebrates Araw Ng Mga Patay,' Occidental News. Los Angeles, CA
-Interview: ‘Meet Trailblazer Nica Aquino,’ Voyage LA. Los Angeles, CA
2016
-Review: ‘Reply All, Grosvenor Gallery,’ Corridor8: Contemporary Art and Writing Journal. Manchester, UK
2013
-Review: 'Art Walkin': First Thursday,' Portland Mercury Newspaper Visual Art Review. Portland, OR
LECTURES/PANELS/ARTIST TALKS
2019
-'ARAW NG MGA PATAY: Filipinx-American Artists Celebrate Day of the Dead' Artist Led Walkthrough. Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA.
-'Memory Room' Dinner & Artist Talk at Irenia Restaurant, presented by the Erica Broussard Gallery. Santa Ana, CA
-‘Borders: Representation & Reality,’ Artist Panel. PSU Department of Philosophy. Portland, OR
-Visiting Artist Lecture (Professional Practices Seminar), Pacific Northwest College of Art. Portland, OR
2018:
-'BALAY/BAHAY: Creating Our Home' Artist Led Walkthrough. Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
-’The Starving Artist No More’ Adelante Mujer Latina Conference. Pasadena City College. Pasadena, CA
2016:
-Visiting High School Lecture: Mid-Peninsula High School. Los Angeles, CA
-Intro to Philippine Art, City College of San Francisco. San Francisco, CA
-Filipino-American Heritage, Napa Valley College. Napa Valley, CA
-‘Filipino Family,’ City College of San Francisco. San Francisco, CA
2013:
-’Resistance’ Artist Panel, Place PDX Gallery. Portland, OR
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019
-'Memory Room' #2, at Irenia Restaurant, presented by the Erica Broussard Gallery. Santa Ana, CA
2018
-‘Memory Room,’ Annex Gallery at Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
2013
-‘The Best of: Nica Aquino,’ BFA Gallery at Pacific Northwest College of Art. Portland, OR
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
-CFAER's 15th Annual Art Auction. Eagle Rock, CA
-’Borders: Representation & Reality,’ MK Gallery. Portland, OR
-‘Politically Private,’ Guggenheim Gallery. Orange, CA
-‘A Public Collection of the Hidden but Familiar (A Tropikalye Survey),’ Limbo Gallery. Makati City, Philippines
2018
-’Balay/Bahay: Creating Our Home,’ Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
-’And/Or Pt. 2,’ Junior High. Hollywood, CA
-’Dépaysement,’ by Asia Photo Review. Nous Tous Gallery. Los Angeles, CA
-’And/Or,’ Deep End Club. Echo Park, CA
-’Immigration 101: Artists Speak Out,’ Main Gallery at Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
-’Images of Power,’ Freight Gallery. San Antonio, TX
2017
-’Kitakits,’ Pilipino Workers Center. Los Angeles, CA
-’Honoring Our Ancestors,’ Main Gallery at Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
-Manchester-Brazil Collaborative ‘Responder A Todxs,’ Despina Gallery. Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
2016
-Manchester-Brazil Collaborative ‘Reply All,’ Grosvenor Gallery. Manchester, UK
-’Territorial Anxiety,’ Grosvenor Gallery. Manchester, UK
2015
-’(Con)testing Ground,’ Twenty Twenty Two Gallery. Manchester, UK
-’The Other ‘I’ in Art,’ Action/Adventure Theater. Portland, OR
2014
-’April Meetings,’ Video & Performance Festival. Belgrade, Serbia
2013
-’Resistance,’ Place PDX Gallery, Portland, OR
2012
-Race Art Exhibition, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Portland, OR
-’Coffee and Nostalgia,’ Gallery 11:11. Portland, OR
-’Exploring Otherness,’ Students of Color Coalition. Higgins Gallery, Portland, OR
-SOCC Group Exhibition, Influx Gallery, Portland, OR
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2019
-'anotherspace: 4 Filipinx-American Artists Transform Space,' Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
-'ARAW NG MGA PATAY: Filipinx-American Artists Celebrate Day of the Dead,' Avenue 50 Studio. Highland Park, CA
2018
-’Balay/Bahay: Creating Our Home,’ Center for the Arts Eagle Rock. Eagle Rock, CA
PUBLICATIONS
2019
-Filipino American Artist Directory 2018-2019, Chicago, IL
2017
-{M}aganda Magazine Issue #30 - 'TRIAL', Berkeley, CA
2014
-“Not the Place for a Brown Face,” Broke in Korea, Seoul, South Korea
2012
-Submit Magazine, Portland, OR
2011
-Submit Magazine, Portland, OR
PERFORMANCES WITH KAYAMANAN NG LAHI
2015
-Merrie Monarch Festival Parade. Hilo, Hawai’i
-University of Hawaii Hilo Pilipino Cultural Night. Hilo, Hawai’i
-University of Hawaii Hilo Edutainment. Hilo, Hawai’i
-”MANA" - Music & Dance of the Philippines & Hawai’i, Merrie Monarch Festival Ho’Ike Night, Hilo, Hawai’i
-California State University of Northridge Pilipino Cultural Night. Los Angeles, CA
-”MANA" - Music and Dance of the Philippines & Hawai’i. Aratani Theater. Los Angeles, CA
2014
-”Giving Thanks" Thanksgiving Recital, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Los Angeles, CA
-23rd Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC), Los Angeles, CA
