ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jackie Hontiveros Lozano, as Ikaj is otherwise known, adores the human figure. With all its forms, angles, and poses—she uses the physical body as a means of personal expression. Born and raised in Manila Philippines, she obtained her degree in Visual Communication from the University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Fine Arts in 2009. Tracing a path through advertising, design, and teaching, Ikaj began painting full time in 2013, exploring themes of identity, trauma, solitariness, and sexuality.
For her first solo exhibition in 2018, her work focused on “figures to look up to”, titled appropriately, Hero. Succeeding exhibitions—Awakening, Marigold Summer, and her most recent in 2022, Bloom—explore stories of self discovery, acceptance, and a renewed hope despite the uncertainty of the future.
Ikaj has been teaching at the UP College of Fine Arts since 2013, handling courses in painting techniques for freshmen and figure drawing for sophomores. She continues to receive numerous commissions for portraits in her Anonymous style, an approach characterized by lightness and depth achieved through quickly layered palette knife strokes.
Her influences include Egon Schiele, Kent Williams, Andrew Salgado, and contemporary philosopher Alain de Botton, a champion for art’s didactic role in society. She is fascinated by exaggerated, expressive, and contorted facial and body forms, the bold, flowing line work of pencil sketches, and the layering techniques of oil. She is working towards a personal style that embodies these qualities—a style she describes as figurative, illustrative, abstract, and chaotic—depicting subjects drawn from her experiences, recurring memories, and imagination.
Bio
(b. 1988)
Lives and works in Manila, Philippines
2009
BFA - Visual Communication
University of the Philippines Diliman
College of Fine Arts
Solo Exhibitions
2022 July
Bloom
Manila House Private Club, BGC PH
2021 October
Marigold Summer
Online exhibition
2020 June
Awakening
Online exhibition in collaboration with Manila House Private Club
2018 March
Hero
Manila House Private Club, BGC, PH
Group Exhibitions
2023 July
FLowers and Daydreams, group exhibition
Art Elaan, Ayala Malls, Manila Bay, Parañaque PH
2022 May
In the Midst of it All, group exhibition
Arte Bettina, 3F Greenbelt 5, Makati PH
2021 May
(Re)set, group exhibition
Galerie Anna, 4F SM Megamall Bldg. A, Mandaluyong City PH
2020 August
Art in the Park Online 2020
Featured Artist in collaboration with BPI
2016 November
Night at the Races, Auction
The American Chamber Foundation, New World Hotel PH
2015 December
Art Gifts: UP CFA Faculty Exhibit
UP College of Fine Arts Gallery, Quezon City PH
2015 August
Left Wing, Right Wing: UP CFA Faculty Exhibit
UP College of Fine Arts Gallery, Quezon City PH
2014 November
Art and the Order of Nature: The Indigenous Textile Arts in the Philippines
Ayala Museum, Makati PH
2014 March
Art in the Park
Salcedo Park, Makati PH
2013 November
Mystique: Club Filipino Hong Kong Charity Ball
Helena May Grand Hall, Central, Hong Kong
2013 November
Spatial Halo-Halo: UP CFA Visual Communication Faculty Exhibit
UP College of Fine Arts Gallery, Quezon City PH
2011
Generations: A Heritage of Art Making
The Gallery, Arts in the City, BGC, PH
Teaching
2013—present
Lecturer at the University of the Philippines
College of Fine Arts, Visual Communication
Courses: Techniques 1, Techniques 2,
Figure Drawing 1, Figure Drawing 2
2012–2014
Instructor, Figure Drawn Art Workshop
UP College of Fine Arts, Quezon City PH
Arts in the City, BGC PH
Honors
2019 March
Speaker, The Independent Artist
SAE Institute Australia, Chippendale, NSW
2013 September
Judge, On-the-Spot painting contest
National Housing Authority 2013 Family Week
2013 September
Club Filipino Hong Kong Youth
MNL to HK exhibit finalist
2009
BFA Cum Laude Graduate
University of the Philippines, College of Fine Arts
Features / Publications
2022 July
In Full Bloom
In the House - Manila House Magazine
2022 July
Meet the Artist: IKAJ
YouTube - Manila House Private Club
2020 August
Art Prevails: Everything You’re Missing At Art In The Park 2020
Lifestyle Asia
2020 June
2nd Solo Exhibit of Jackie Hontiveros Lozano
Art+ Magazine Philippines
2020 June
An Artist’s Awakening
In the House - Manila House Magazine
2020 June
Creating expressions of growth
BusinessWorld
2020 June
Rebooting the art scene: ‘Worst of times can make the best of art’
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2019
Alone/Together
Film Directed by Antoinette Jadaone
cast as artist Jackie Lozano
2018 March
A figurative artist’s dilemma—when her art is no longer ‘cool’
Philippine Daily Inquirer
2018 March
Artist Jackie Lozano’s Hero Is a Fresh Take on Filipino Oil Painting
Spot.ph
2015 February
The Art Issue
Cover photo of Philippine Panorama Magazine
2014
Art and the Order of Nature: The Mercedes Zobel Collection of Indigenous Philippine Textiles
Book design and spot illustrations by Jackie Lozano