Allan Balisi (b. 1982, Isabela, Philippines; lives and works in Quezon City) is a visual artist who works across painting, drawing, print, and photography. The composition of his paintings is often based on cinematic and photographic imagery. However, Balisi’s rendering of his subjects departs from any photorealistic depiction or figuration. The construction of these images in his paintings reveals a keen sensitivity to graphic elements. These images are then recontextualized through the manner in which they are framed, emphasized within the picture plane, or through the dilution of colors, suggesting a certain emotion or underlying narrative, captured within a moment in time. Most recently, Balisi has begun using his own photographs as the reference for his paintings.
Balisi earned a degree in Painting from the Far Eastern University in Manila. His works have been exhibited at ILHAM Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) in Manila, the Ateneo Art Gallery, the Vargas Museum, and the Cultural Center of the Philippines. He has held solo exhibitions at Blanc, West Gallery, Artinformal, and Silverlens. He is a recipient of the Thirteen Artists Award. Balisi has also self-published zines and produced punk music albums.
