Gregory Halili
Biography
Gregory Halili (b. 1975, Manila, Philippines; lives and works in Manila) is an artist specializing in the intricate art of miniatures. He meticulously carves and paints mother-of-pearl shells, creating memento moris that capture contemporary concepts of memory, life, death, and cycles. Recently, he has broadened his practice to include miniature oil paintings. Transforming capiz shells into canvases, he delicately presses them to their most fragile state, nearly reaching the point of breaking. These thinned-down, glass-like pieces, featuring paintings of butterflies and moths on the reverse, offer a reflection on the intricate and fragile state of the environment and the future. After 25 years in the United States, he returned to the Philippines in 2013.
Notable information
• Received B.F.A. from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia
• Presented at the Singapore Biennale 2016
• Works exhibited at major institutions including John Michael Kohler Arts Center, The Butler Institute of American Art, and Hammond Museum
• Currently represented by Silverlens Galleries (Manila and New York) and Nancy Hoffman Gallery
• Known for innovative techniques in transforming natural materials like mother-of-pearl and capiz shells into intricate artworks
• Recent solo exhibitions include "Vanishing" (2024) at Silverlens New York and "Heavenly Bodies" (2022) at Silverlens Manila
