Oman Gaitana’s 3rd solo exhibition will feature portraits of the faces he remembered, and he simply yet aptly titled the show Faces I Remember.

The exhibition will open February 23, 2025 (Sunday) at 4:00 PM at the Oval Art Gallery, Brgy. Abilay Sur, Oton, Iloilo. 

For Oton-born artist, every face holds a world of emotions, stories, and memories. He has been captivated by the faces that crossed his path, taking it as fleeting encounters yet with some that led to lasting connections. It is these faces, these silent narrators of human experience, that have become the muse for his latest body of work.

The portraits of Gaitana convey the emotional predisposition of his subjects, bringing to life the people who have left a permanent impression on him. In Faces I Remember, Gaitana will show paintings that tell stories of joy, sadness, energy, and life in general, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and feel the pulse of each face on canvas that is rendered through the vibrant hues and varying brushstrokes, a style that has become synonymous with him.

His paintings are known for their bold abstraction and striking facial distortions—deconstructed images that show complex expressions, highlighting a particular mien that evokes reimagination of the human form and conveys the mood of the moment they were captured by the artist.

His use of fragmented shapes, geometric forms, and unexpected angles distorts traditional perspectives, challenging viewers to see beyond realism. Distorted shapes and strokes often reflect emotional depth or psychological complexity, demonstrating the artist’s exploration of multiple viewpoints within a single composition. This is revealed by his works in his first solo exhibition, held in 2022 at the Puluy-an Art Gallery titled “Muaks,” and by a second successful show, “Every (Wo)man,” at the Baeay Art Gallery in Kalibo, Aklan.

Revisit his show here: Oman Gaitana 2nd Solo Show at Baeay Art Gallery

The abstract portraitures from his earlier exhibitions illustrates an approach that pushes the boundaries of representation, illustrating a cacophony of emotions, inviting intrigue, mystery, and connection to the viewer. 

His portraits are radiant and visually attractive, demonstrating contemporaneity, as if the colors themselves carry the essence of the subjects he paints. Vivid yellows, reds, blues, and greens breathe life into each expression, giving a sense of playfulness and lightness while distorted shapes allude to burdens that one carries on their shoulders, giving weight of memory to each of the faces.

The spontaneous and unrestrained brushwork of Gaitana imparts a joyous temperament, perhaps reflecting his intention to share positivity and invite understanding of his own emotional journey.

Artistic journey

Born on April 12, 1959, in Oton, Iloilo, Gaitana’s artistic journey didn’t begin with painting. Instead, he pursued a Bachelor of Science in Architecture at the University of San Agustin, where he laid the foundation for his creative pursuits. Before fully embracing painting, he worked as a designer and photographer—both careers that honed his eye for detail and understanding of composition.

At 62, Gaitana proved that the drive to create doesn’t have a time limit. He took up painting, and in doing so, he found a new medium that allowed him to express himself in ways he never had before. His work combines elements of outsider art and whimsical expressionism. He then combined formal and informal techniques to allow his emotions to flow freely onto the canvas, creating pieces that resonate with spontaneity and imagination to produce bold, unapologetically joyful, and expressive faces that seem to speak to the viewer in ways words cannot express.

His art has been showcased across Panay and Cebu, both in group exhibitions and through personal invitations, earning him recognition as an influential member of the Ogtonganon Visual Artists League Inc. (OVAL).

His commitment to his craft and his artistic contributions were acknowledged with the University of San Agustin College of Architecture Achievement Award, cementing his place as a respected figure in the world of art.

Faces I Remember is more than just a collection of portraits; it’s a celebration of the beauty of human connection. With each stroke, Gaitana invites you to see the world through someone else’s eyes, to find familiarity in the expressions of people you may never meet but whose stories resonate just the same. The exhibition is a reminder that every face, whether encountered briefly or cherished forever, carries its own unique story.

In Gaitana’s world, art is more than a visual experience; it’s a portal into memory, emotion, and connection. Faces I Remember is a testament to the power of art to bring us closer to one another, to remind us of the humanity we share, and to celebrate the emotions that make us who we are.