Kenneth Montegrande: These are a few of his favorite themes

Artist Kenneth Montegrande, which means “great mountain” in Spanish, is truly headed for greater heights.

Galleons and lighthouses, flowers and moons—these are but some of the visual elements that wowed collectors and followers of Kenneth during his 22nd solo exhibit, which was staged recently at the Galerie Joaquin in Rockwell. A self-taught abstract painter, Kenneth is reportedly the first Southeast Asian artist whose works are part of the collection of Japanese billionaire and art collector Yusaku Maezawa.

In Beyond Limits, Kenneth introduced the Lighthouse and the Galleon series, through which he expands his signature cloud and seascapes “with themes of guidance, resilience and exploration.” And in keeping with the layered, nuanced and somewhat contemplative nature of his works, the artist painted these new elements, not just with his masterful hands, but also with his heart.

Galleons, for one, are an ode to his childhood days in Malate, which included memories of admiring the once-cleaner waters of Manila Bay. “As a proud Manileño, I’ve always wanted to help preserve the city’s culture and history. And the fact that galleons once sailed those waters always fascinated me,” said the artist, who intends to include more of these historic ships in his upcoming shows.

And then there’s the lighthouse, which mirrors Kenneth’s gratitude for the divine providence he enjoys in his life. “No matter how big the waves are, or how dark the night is, a sailor will always feel hope when he sees the lighthouse,” said Kenneth, who himself has overcome many of life’s storms through faith, prayers, support of family and friends and, of course, art. 

The moon, which first graced Kenneth’s canvas during his 20th solo exhibit in Hong Kong in 2023—where National Artist BenCab himself cut the ribbon—also represents God’s unfailing love. “God loved people so much that aside from giving us a sun at daytime, he also made a moon to guide us in our darker hours,” he said.

Flowers, on the other hand, have been a recurring theme in his works, most notably in 2021, when he finished one of Sanso’s unfinished paintings for a charity auction that benefitted seven scholars from the Bulacan State University. Another two-man show between Kenneth and Sanso, in cooperation with Galerie Joaquin and Fundacion Sanso, is also in the works and is slated to happen in August.

On a more poignant note, flowers represent many beautiful things in Kenneth’s life. Among them are his daughters, 17-year-old Sasha and 15-year-old Claire, both of whom were all smiles as their dad launched his latest exhibit—and on his birthday, too!

Kenneth also shared that flowers remind him to be patient and more trusting of the process. “There are parts of me that have blossomed and parts that I’m still waiting to blossom. Some parts have wilted and been shed, for sure, but that’s part of the design. In the end, we all bloom in God’s time,” he said.