MANILA, PHILIPPINES – French figurative painter Henri Lamy is set to present Sovereign Faces, a new solo exhibition at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), opening March 20, 2026. The show coincides with Women’s History Month and brings together a series of portraits that explore the identities, stories, and legacies of women across cultures and generations.
The exhibition features figures both historical and contemporary, as well as symbolic representations of feminine power. Among them are revolutionary leader Gabriela Silang, former Philippine president Corazon Aquino, and sculptor Agnes Arellano. The series also includes portraits of a Mangyan girl, a sea goddess, and Maïa d’Aboville, directress of the d’Aboville Foundation, whose work focuses on the preservation of Mangyan culture and the tamaraw in Mindoro.
In several pieces, Lamy reimagines familiar national symbols. Works such as a reinterpretation of the 1,000-peso bill and a Thai baht diptych shift the focus from traditional male figures to female sovereigns, offering a contemporary critique of representation.
The paintings aim to challenge conventional narratives while celebrating the resilience, diversity, and leadership of women in both private and public spheres.
Born in Lyon in 1985, Lamy is known for his figurative works marked by vivid color, expressive composition, and an inventive use of the palette knife. He began his career at the Paris art residence 59 Rivoli and later combined his passions for capoeira and painting into a performance-based practice developed with his wife, Maïa d’Aboville.
The artist has also worked closely with Philippine NGOs, conducting workshops and community-based art initiatives. His projects include collaborations with organizations such as Stairway Foundation in Puerto Galera, Project Pearl in Tondo, E. Zobel Foundation in Calatagan, and Museo Pambata in Manila.
In addition to the exhibition opening on March 20, the ILOMOCA program includes a painting class on March 18 and a capoeira painting performance on March 21. Sovereign Faces will run through June 1, 2026.
