Patrice Salas’ first brush with paintings started early. As a child, she remembers watching her mother, Chichi, choose which artworks to hang at the family-owned Gallery Genesis.
Forty-five years later, Patrice is now running the show. In this interview, she talks about the challenges and rewards of discovering and supporting Filipino visual artists.
One of my earliest memories is visiting our gallery when it was still at SM Megamall and watching my mom choose from the paintings that artists would bring in. Even as a child, I witnessed her keen eye for talent and saw firsthand how she discovered, nurtured, and supported artists. Looking back, those moments shaped the way I see art today.
How much of an influence were your parents on your appreciation of visual arts?
My parents had an enormous influence on me. Art was never separate from our daily lives. It was part of our everyday conversations. My dad Ernie, my mom Chichi, and my sister Rhoda often talked about art, artists, and the industry, and we regularly visited museums and galleries together. We also attended exhibits and art auctions. We would spend time looking at artworks and discussing what moved or inspired us. Growing up in that environment made my appreciation for art feel completely natural.
Did you imagine you would one day take over running Gallery Genesis?
Not at all. It wasn’t something I had planned for myself. But now that I’m in this role, everything seems to have fallen into place. Looking back, I realize that all those childhood experiences quietly prepared me for this responsibility, even if I didn’t recognize it at the time.
This year Gallery Genesis is celebrating its 45th anniversary. What has been your most exciting experience while running it?
One of the most rewarding aspects has been discovering exceptionally talented artists from different parts of the Philippines. It still amazes me how far many of them travel just for the opportunity to share their work with us. Witnessing their passion, dedication, and creativity is incredibly inspiring and reminds me why we do what we do.
What do you also remember about its most challenging moments?
Like any business, we’ve experienced our share of challenges. One of the hardest parts is having to turn down talented artists simply because we can’t accommodate everyone in our annual exhibition calendar. There are many deserving artists, and making those decisions is never easy.
Gallery Genesis is widely known for launching the ‘Kulay sa Tubig’ watercolor competition, which is now on its 38th year. What do you like about watercolor as a medium?
What I love most about watercolor is its expressiveness. It has a unique ability to capture emotion, light, and movement with remarkable fluidity. I also appreciate its unpredictability and the way you can guide it, but you can never completely control it. That balance between intention and spontaneity is what makes watercolor such a beautiful and exciting medium.
To coincide with its 45th anniversary, the gallery is presenting a one-man show of ‘Kulay sa Tubig’ hall of famer Rolan Guina. What makes his hyperrealist works different from the rest?
One of the things I admire most about Rolan is his incredible versatility. He continually explores different subjects and themes, yet every piece is executed with extraordinary precision and technical mastery. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that such a diverse body of work comes from the same artist, and I think that’s what truly sets him apart. You’ll definitely see that in this month’s exhibit.
What’s your favorite among his paintings and why?
I love his ‘Wire Series,’ but I was especially drawn to ‘Through Her Eyes.’ It’s a work that feels complex and understated at the same time. The composition is thoughtful, the details are extraordinary, and the longer you look at it, the more it reveals. It’s one of those paintings that stays with you.
You must have tried painting, too. How do you like it?
I have, and I genuinely enjoy it. Painting is very calming and meditative for me. It gives me the chance to slow down, be present, and express myself in a different way. It has also deepened my appreciation for the skill, patience, and discipline that artists bring to their work, which I witness whenever we have exhibits.
What’s your wish for Gallery Genesis?
My wish is for Gallery Genesis to celebrate another 45 years and many more beyond that, the way my mom has always envisioned it. More importantly, I hope we continue discovering and supporting Filipino artists, inspiring future generations of collectors and art enthusiasts, and remaining a place where creativity, excellence, and artistic expression can flourish.