Kapwa Gardens Mural Residency Finalist: ChiChai Mateo
Balay Kreative is honored to announce that ChiChai Mateo is one of our finalists for the Kapwa Gardens Mural Residency!
The Kapwa Gardens Mural Residency program was designed in collaboration with Kapwa Gardens and Balay Kreative to celebrate the new health and wellness space in the heart of the cultural district. These artworks convey color and joy that will bring energy and life to SOMA Pilipinas and Kapwa Gardens— a new community space from Kultivate Labs. We are excited to present works by Cristine Blanco, Vivian Capulong, and ChiChai Mateo; three talented Fil-Am artists whose experience of community and FilAm identity has made a deep impression on them. We hope you can join us in celebrating community connections through these beautiful creative reflections.
About the Artist
Born and raised throughout Ohlone land (San Francisco Bay Area) as a child of Philippine immigrants, ChiChai stems all she does to her dedication in community and reclamation of one's self as a woman of color.
As a multidisciplinary artist, ChiChai challenges notions around womanhood, environmentalism and colonization.
ChiChai serves the Bay as an educator as well, either as a teaching artist or a workshop host or speaker for Filipinx-American activism.
ChiChai founded streetwear brand Empire in the Air (EITA) which encourages others to build their empires through:
1) the messages in its apparel and
2) its events and pop-up shops that feature other creatives, oftentimes in partnership with local organizations