Gifts as tradition: Ateneo Art Gallery features recently acquired works from Ateneo Alumni

The Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) continues to expand its collection through the generosity of alumni donors. Its recently opened exhibition, "Gifts from Ateneo Alumni,” keeps this practice true until today with the show featuring works by two artists, Lao Lianben and Virgilio "Pandy" Aviado, donated to Ateneo de Manila University by four alumni — Dr Leovino Ma. Garcia, an Anonymous Alumnus, Atty Ernesto Caluya Jr, and Aviado. The exhibition runs until 13 September 2025 at the Wilson L Sy Prints & Drawings Gallery, 2F Ateneo Art Gallery.

Featured works by Lao give an overview of the artist’s journey into abstraction in the 1980s to the 2000s. His experimentations with materials employ repetitive actions such as layering pigment or pounding wooden surfaces. Later works take on spiritual and meditative attributes inspired by Buddhism.

Dr Garcia, known for his collection of works by Lao, is a professor at Ateneo de Manila University and at the University of Santo Tomas Graduate School, specializing in contemporary French philosophy. From 1988 to 1994, he was the first lay dean of the then Ateneo School of Arts and Sciences, and served as the first dean of the School of Humanities from 2000 to 2007. The Ateneo Alumnus is a regular benefactor of the University, who has gifted a total of 74 artworks since 2009, nine of which are works by Lao.

The inner section gallery features 26 prints by renowned printmaker Virgilio “Pandy” Aviado, donated by Atty Ernesto Caluya Jr and the artist himself. Aviado’s artistic practice has spanned over 60 years, training under Manuel Rodriguez Sr and master printmakers from Madrid and Paris through a study grant received from artist and patron Fernando Zóbel. He was one of the first recipients of the CCP Thirteen Artists Awards, and previously served as the President of the Art Association of the Philippines and Director of the CCP Visual Arts Coordinating Center.

Atty Ernesto Caluya Jr’s gift consists of his entire collection of Aviado’s works, in his way of giving back to his alma mater where he earned his degrees in AB Philosophy and Bachelor of Laws in 1975 and 1979 respectively. He is a retired Employment/Labor Law Practitioner who during his legal career has been consistently cited in The Legal 500 Asia Pacific and the Global Counsel 3000. Atty Caluya has also successfully defended the University in its numerous labor litigation cases.

“Gifts from Ateneo Alumni” is on view at the Wilson L Sy Prints & Drawings Gallery, 2F Ateneo Art Gallery, Soledad V Pangilinan Arts, Areté, Ateneo de Manila University. The Museum is open Mondays to Saturdays, from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, and closed on Sundays and Holidays. For inquiries, email aag@ateneo.edu or call (2) 8426 6488.