Erick Lodriga Dator Erick Dator is a Filipino artist whose work is deeply rooted in the folk traditions and vibrant spirit of Lucban, Quezon. Known for his innovative use of kiping-shaped canvases—echoing the colorful rice wafers central to the town’s Pahiyas Festival—Dator transforms a symbol of harvest into a dynamic medium for storytelling. His paintings celebrate rural life, community rituals, and the joyful chaos of Filipino festivals, rendered in bold tempera and acrylic strokes.
Dator’s path to full-time artistry began with formal studies in Fine Arts at Southern Luzon Polytechnic College and the University of the East, followed by years as a commercial artist in the Philippines and abroad. In 1998, he shifted focus to painting full-time, and by 2000, held his first solo exhibition at the Philippine Center in New York—a milestone that launched a prolific international career.
With over two dozen solo shows and numerous group exhibitions across the U.S. and Europe, Dator’s art has reached audiences far beyond Lucban. His exhibit Kiping in Touch at the Riceworld Museum of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) underscored his commitment to honoring agricultural heritage through contemporary expression.
Now based once again in Lucban, Dator continues to paint, teach, and share his vision—bridging folk tradition with modern technique, and inviting viewers to see the beauty in everyday celebration.
