NICA AQUINO
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • Full CV
    • HIRE ME!
    • Connect >
      • Email
      • Newsletter
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
    • Press >
      • Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
      • Asian Voices TV, Ep. 10
      • Art & Cake Contemporary Art Magazine
      • Artillery Magazine
      • Corridor8
      • Diversions LA >
        • Sanctuary of the Aftermath – A Dazzling Exhibition of Land, Sea, and Spirit
        • Center for the Arts Eagle Rock: A Wide Range of Culturally Inclusive Programming Includes Participation in Upcoming Current LA: Food
      • FilAm Arts
      • Itaú Cultural Encyclopedia of Brazilian Art and Culture
      • LA City Dept. of Cultural Affairs
      • LA Weekly
      • Los Angeles Contemporary Archive
      • Mutual Art
      • Occidental News >
        • Araw Ng Mga Patay
        • Balikbayan Box
      • Oregon Arts Watch >
        • VizArts Monthly: Slowing Down
        • Telling Oregon’s Hawaiian story
      • Portland Mercury
      • Positively Filipino
      • Random Lengths News
      • Salo-SALA
      • San Antonio Current
      • Street Roots
      • University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture
      • Voyage LA
    • Donate >
      • Zelle (preferred): [email protected]
      • PayPal
      • Cash.App
      • Venmo
  • Projects
    • Visual Art >
      • Exhibitions >
        • Past >
          • 2025 >
            • NAMAN at LA Artcore
            • Portrait 2025
          • 2023 >
            • FAMILY presented by Anyone/Anywhere (NYC)
          • 2021 >
            • DISplace >
              • Online Exhibition
              • Oregon Artswatch: Artswatch Focus
            • Hair Pulling Between Good & Evil
            • Quiet Please at Tlaloc Studios
            • HATAK
            • I Remember 2020
            • Sanctuary of the Aftermath >
              • Exhibition
              • Review: Art & Cake Contemporary Art Magazine
              • Review: Artillery Magazine
              • Review: Diversions LA
              • News: LA Weekly
              • Review: Random Lengths News
          • 2020 >
            • Merkadito Pasko
            • Untold Parallels
            • Home at Acogedor Space for Maiden LA
            • Kentucky Fried Pop-Up for Maiden LA
          • 2019 >
            • Politically Private
            • Borders: Representation & Reality
          • 2018 >
            • Depaysement
            • Immigration 101
            • Images of Power >
              • Exhiibtion Catalogue
              • Press
          • 2017 >
            • Honoring Our Ancestors
          • 2016 >
            • Reply All >
              • Exhibition
              • Press
            • Territorial Anxiety
          • 2013 >
            • Resistance
      • Photographic Series >
        • Traces of You (WIP)
        • Return Call (WIP)
        • Venerating an Icon >
          • Photo Essay + Research
          • ARROZidency AiR + Extended Research
        • The Mayor's Daughter
        • Memory Full
        • How I Survived Breaking Both My Legs
        • Mana
        • Sixteen Again
        • Keep Portland White
        • Misc. Photography
        • Coming Soon >
          • Nobody Walks in LA
          • A Year in the Coloniser's Land
      • Other Media >
        • Memory Room >
          • Exhibition
          • Artist Talk: Dinner in the Memory Room
        • Video >
          • Instructional Video for the Warrior Goddess
          • #I_ATE_THE_BONES
          • Isolation 2020 - Balamb
          • Danum (Water) #1
          • Supertubos Beach
          • Lucid Dreaming
          • Celebrate Movement
          • Keep Portland White
        • Textiles >
          • Kusikus Textile Series (ongoing)
          • Untitled Wall Hanging
        • Misc. Mixed Media
        • Collabs >
          • still. here. now.here by Cirilo Domine
    • Programming >
      • Curatorial >
        • 2022 >
          • HATAK 2022
          • KAPWA: Communal Spirit
          • FOR GOOD?
        • 2021 >
          • HATAK (2021)
          • I Remember 2020
        • 2020 >
          • Merkadito Pasko
          • Tuloy Po Kayo
          • Untold Parallels
          • Quality Time
        • 2019 >
          • We Are Like Air
          • anotherspace >
            • Exhibition
            • Eye of the Fish: Gunita Collective x Batik Maker
            • Lola's Sari-Sari Store
          • Araw Ng Mga Patay >
            • Exhibition
            • Artist Led Walkthrough
            • PRESS: Occidental Newspaper
            • PRESS: University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture
        • 2018 >
          • Balay/Bahay >
            • Exhibition
            • Opening Reception Performances >
              • Alay
              • Gong Spirits
              • Native Spirit
              • Dance Cypher
      • Community Engagement >
        • 2025 >
          • Parol-making Workshop
          • Playing with Palm Weaving
        • 2021 >
          • Five Oaks Museum Social Media Takeover
        • 2020 >
          • Oxy Arts Community Studio Series with Nica Aquino (Occidental College)
          • Family Paint Night w/ FilAm Fam (POSTPONED)
          • Paper Making w/ John DeCastro
        • 2019 >
          • Parol Workshop w/ Christian Acfalle
          • Current LA:FOOD
          • Balikbayan Box w/ Sara Chao >
            • Workshop
            • Press
          • How to Make a Rainbow w/ Jade Phoenix
          • Lumpihahaha
      • Lectures, Artist Talks >
        • 2021 >
          • Healing Centered Art: Many Paths to Wellness
          • DISCOVER 10: 10 API Artists at the Cutting Edge of Art
        • 2020 >
          • Artist Talk w/ Silvia M. De Leon
          • Artist Talk w/ Dearantler
          • Artist Talk w/ Em Hernandez
          • Artist Talk w/ Mike Saijo
        • 2019 >
          • 'Araw Ng Mga Patay' Artist Led Walkthrough
          • Dinner in the 'Memory Room'
          • Artist Panel PSU Dept. of Philosophy
        • 2018 >
          • 24th Adelante Mujer Latina
      • Shady Pines Radio >
        • Past >
          • 10.27.22: Vera Icona's Halloween Special >
            • Listen on MixCloud
            • Listen on YouTube
          • 12.16.21: Angels with Filthy Souls (Listen on YouTube)
          • 10.28.21: Songs to Listen to Before a Cult S*icide (Listen on YouTube)
    • Publications >
      • 2019 Filipino-American Artist Directory
      • 2017 {M}aganda Magazine
    • Performances >
      • 2015 Merrie Monarch Ho'ike
      • 2015 Aratani Theater
  • Mata Art Gallery
  • Blog
    • Current Blog
    • Tumblr Blog Archive, 2013-2023 (password: nicaaquino)

Subscribe to receive email updates on upcoming programs & projects.

* indicates required
/* real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups */

Intuit Mailchimp

Recent Blogs & Photo ESsays:

View from a computer for the full experience.
Picture

ARROZidency Artist-in-Residence

VENERATING AN ICON is Nica's visual study of the Santo Niño in contemporary Philippines & CA diaspora. Created during her 2025 month-long artist residency at OM France Viana Studio at the Minnesota Street Project in San Francisco, the work reflects on diasporic identity, memory, religious iconography, & devotion through lens-based image-making & personal storytelling.
READ MORE
Picture

Nica goes [Back] to College

From September-December 2025, Nica took an advanced photography lighting class at Glendale Community College, where she practiced a range of advanced lighting techniques she never learnt during her four years in art school. Check out the full roundup of photos + some reflections!
READ MORE
Picture

Taiwan Travel: Art, Ritual & the Everyday

In this photo series, Nica explored Yilan County through art, spirituality, & daily life during a trip in 2024. The images weave together quiet rituals, cultural history, & intimate moments along Taiwan’s northeastern coast.
READ MORE
Picture

MONO NO AWARE: Stills from Japan

Here are some digital stills from Nica's solo-trip to Japan in autumn 2024, where she spent part of the Halloween season! She explored the streets of Tokyo's cityscape on foot & bicycle, & also made a day trip to Kamakura.
READ MORE
Picture

Balay da Judge Artist-in-Residence

Nica spent 2 months exploring the Philippines, including a month-long spring artist residency with the Alfredo F. Tadiar Library in coastal La Union — where art, literature, waves, landscape, & memory met. Her residency project is still in-progress.
READ MORE
Picture

Mindanao Memories

Nica's first visit to the stunning southern Philippine island of Mindanao was a 10-day journey through coastal roads & misty mountains with friends — timed perfectly to witness the vibrant Kaamulan Festival in full swing.
READ MORE
Picture

Return Call

In autumn 2024, Nica returned to the Philippines for the first time since her father’s burial in 2019, spending a quiet month in her family's northern province, revisiting old paths once walked with her parents.
READ MORE
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • About
    • Bio
    • Full CV
    • HIRE ME!
    • Connect >
      • Email
      • Newsletter
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
    • Press >
      • Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association
      • Asian Voices TV, Ep. 10
      • Art & Cake Contemporary Art Magazine
      • Artillery Magazine
      • Corridor8
      • Diversions LA >
        • Sanctuary of the Aftermath – A Dazzling Exhibition of Land, Sea, and Spirit
        • Center for the Arts Eagle Rock: A Wide Range of Culturally Inclusive Programming Includes Participation in Upcoming Current LA: Food
      • FilAm Arts
      • Itaú Cultural Encyclopedia of Brazilian Art and Culture
      • LA City Dept. of Cultural Affairs
      • LA Weekly
      • Los Angeles Contemporary Archive
      • Mutual Art
      • Occidental News >
        • Araw Ng Mga Patay
        • Balikbayan Box
      • Oregon Arts Watch >
        • VizArts Monthly: Slowing Down
        • Telling Oregon’s Hawaiian story
      • Portland Mercury
      • Positively Filipino
      • Random Lengths News
      • Salo-SALA
      • San Antonio Current
      • Street Roots
      • University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture
      • Voyage LA
    • Donate >
      • Zelle (preferred): [email protected]
      • PayPal
      • Cash.App
      • Venmo
  • Projects
    • Visual Art >
      • Exhibitions >
        • Past >
          • 2025 >
            • NAMAN at LA Artcore
            • Portrait 2025
          • 2023 >
            • FAMILY presented by Anyone/Anywhere (NYC)
          • 2021 >
            • DISplace >
              • Online Exhibition
              • Oregon Artswatch: Artswatch Focus
            • Hair Pulling Between Good & Evil
            • Quiet Please at Tlaloc Studios
            • HATAK
            • I Remember 2020
            • Sanctuary of the Aftermath >
              • Exhibition
              • Review: Art & Cake Contemporary Art Magazine
              • Review: Artillery Magazine
              • Review: Diversions LA
              • News: LA Weekly
              • Review: Random Lengths News
          • 2020 >
            • Merkadito Pasko
            • Untold Parallels
            • Home at Acogedor Space for Maiden LA
            • Kentucky Fried Pop-Up for Maiden LA
          • 2019 >
            • Politically Private
            • Borders: Representation & Reality
          • 2018 >
            • Depaysement
            • Immigration 101
            • Images of Power >
              • Exhiibtion Catalogue
              • Press
          • 2017 >
            • Honoring Our Ancestors
          • 2016 >
            • Reply All >
              • Exhibition
              • Press
            • Territorial Anxiety
          • 2013 >
            • Resistance
      • Photographic Series >
        • Traces of You (WIP)
        • Return Call (WIP)
        • Venerating an Icon >
          • Photo Essay + Research
          • ARROZidency AiR + Extended Research
        • The Mayor's Daughter
        • Memory Full
        • How I Survived Breaking Both My Legs
        • Mana
        • Sixteen Again
        • Keep Portland White
        • Misc. Photography
        • Coming Soon >
          • Nobody Walks in LA
          • A Year in the Coloniser's Land
      • Other Media >
        • Memory Room >
          • Exhibition
          • Artist Talk: Dinner in the Memory Room
        • Video >
          • Instructional Video for the Warrior Goddess
          • #I_ATE_THE_BONES
          • Isolation 2020 - Balamb
          • Danum (Water) #1
          • Supertubos Beach
          • Lucid Dreaming
          • Celebrate Movement
          • Keep Portland White
        • Textiles >
          • Kusikus Textile Series (ongoing)
          • Untitled Wall Hanging
        • Misc. Mixed Media
        • Collabs >
          • still. here. now.here by Cirilo Domine
    • Programming >
      • Curatorial >
        • 2022 >
          • HATAK 2022
          • KAPWA: Communal Spirit
          • FOR GOOD?
        • 2021 >
          • HATAK (2021)
          • I Remember 2020
        • 2020 >
          • Merkadito Pasko
          • Tuloy Po Kayo
          • Untold Parallels
          • Quality Time
        • 2019 >
          • We Are Like Air
          • anotherspace >
            • Exhibition
            • Eye of the Fish: Gunita Collective x Batik Maker
            • Lola's Sari-Sari Store
          • Araw Ng Mga Patay >
            • Exhibition
            • Artist Led Walkthrough
            • PRESS: Occidental Newspaper
            • PRESS: University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture
        • 2018 >
          • Balay/Bahay >
            • Exhibition
            • Opening Reception Performances >
              • Alay
              • Gong Spirits
              • Native Spirit
              • Dance Cypher
      • Community Engagement >
        • 2025 >
          • Parol-making Workshop
          • Playing with Palm Weaving
        • 2021 >
          • Five Oaks Museum Social Media Takeover
        • 2020 >
          • Oxy Arts Community Studio Series with Nica Aquino (Occidental College)
          • Family Paint Night w/ FilAm Fam (POSTPONED)
          • Paper Making w/ John DeCastro
        • 2019 >
          • Parol Workshop w/ Christian Acfalle
          • Current LA:FOOD
          • Balikbayan Box w/ Sara Chao >
            • Workshop
            • Press
          • How to Make a Rainbow w/ Jade Phoenix
          • Lumpihahaha
      • Lectures, Artist Talks >
        • 2021 >
          • Healing Centered Art: Many Paths to Wellness
          • DISCOVER 10: 10 API Artists at the Cutting Edge of Art
        • 2020 >
          • Artist Talk w/ Silvia M. De Leon
          • Artist Talk w/ Dearantler
          • Artist Talk w/ Em Hernandez
          • Artist Talk w/ Mike Saijo
        • 2019 >
          • 'Araw Ng Mga Patay' Artist Led Walkthrough
          • Dinner in the 'Memory Room'
          • Artist Panel PSU Dept. of Philosophy
        • 2018 >
          • 24th Adelante Mujer Latina
      • Shady Pines Radio >
        • Past >
          • 10.27.22: Vera Icona's Halloween Special >
            • Listen on MixCloud
            • Listen on YouTube
          • 12.16.21: Angels with Filthy Souls (Listen on YouTube)
          • 10.28.21: Songs to Listen to Before a Cult S*icide (Listen on YouTube)
    • Publications >
      • 2019 Filipino-American Artist Directory
      • 2017 {M}aganda Magazine
    • Performances >
      • 2015 Merrie Monarch Ho'ike
      • 2015 Aratani Theater
  • Mata Art Gallery
  • Blog
    • Current Blog
    • Tumblr Blog Archive, 2013-2023 (password: nicaaquino)