Ever-inspired and always learning, Nikulas Lebajo celebrates his 35th year as an artist this 2023 through a solo exhibit for Rustan’s Galerie Bleue, which opens on September 30, 2023 at the 5th Level of Rustan’s Makati.
Born in 1972 and winning the grand prize in the 1989 Shell National Students Art Competition, he has since become a staple in the local art circuit, exhibiting in spaces like the then very prestigious The Luz Gallery, Nunu Fine Art, Richard Koh Fine Art, The Drawing Room Contemporary Art, Gallery Big, Gallery Nine, West Gallery, Gallery 139, Crucible Gallery, Nuzen Art Gallery, Artes Orientes Gallery, Galerie Stephanie, Imahica Art Gallery, Museo Orlina, to name a few.
His consistency was recognized and validated at the 1990 Metrobank Art Competition, and thrice at the Philippine Art Awards, in 1994, 1996, and 2001, he also participated at the annual ManilART fair.
The ethos and themes within Nikulas’ work has also found resonances with international audiences, being exhibited in places like Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Dajeon, Shanghai, and Taipei.
Nikulas considers his art practice a continuation of his father’s legacy, that of the master surrealist Raul Lebajo, who Nikulas cites as a major force in his own pursuit of the artist’s life. The artist believes that “challenges will always come, whether you’re at your fifth or 50th year painting, what matters is to have a steady mind. The rest will follow.”
Curiosity and a sense of exploration continues to lead Nikulas as this exhibit draws major inspiration from Moroccan earthenware and home goods such as plates, bowls, and cups.
“I always scrutinize the finer details of what catches my interest,” he shares, citing how spontaneous visits to stores and antique shops piqued his interest in the “bright colors, intricate shapes, and geometric patterns of Moroccan design.”
Prior to this, Lebajo painted repetitions of still life bottles at his younger days, later moving on to surreal landscapes inspired by his cycling and meditation activities in and around South Luzon. He recently co-exhibited with his daughter, also an artist, in a father’s day themed show earlier this year.
In a way, his most recent fixation hearken back to his earliest days as an artist. Returning to a theme of repetition, where the same subjects are painted from different viewpoints, Nikulas notes how the practice of repetition reveals the “Zen-like power of the mind.”
In a way, Nikulas now synthesize his past experiences and interests to make a cohesive new body of work. He acknowledges how challenges never stopped arriving, and how he saw them as opportunities to grow as an artist. Confident with the wisdom of the years, he shares how “more challenges will arrive, but it’s from the mind that one can draw strength.”
With his creativity and curiosity ever ablaze all while being seasoned by much life experience, Nikulas at 50 years of life and 35 years of art lights a trail of inspiration for young and young at heart creatives. He hopes more young artists continue to find their voice.
For updates, one can follow the artist’s official Facebook page at Nikulas Lebajo, IG page @nikulaslebajo, or inquire at 0995 464 2827, send e-mail at nikulaslebajo@yahoo.com.
