Lydia Velasco is a celebrated Filipina painter whose bold, expressive depictions of women have reshaped the visual narrative of feminine strength in Philippine art. Born in Malabon in 1942, Velasco’s creative journey began early sketching as a child and absorbing artistic influence from her father, a set designer for LVN Studios. She pursued Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, majoring in Advertising, and built a successful career in the corporate world as an Art Director for leading firms like J. Walter Thompson and McCann Erickson.
In the late 1980s, Velasco left advertising to return to painting full-time, developing a signature style defined by elongated, muscular female figures rendered in vibrant, confident strokes. Her subjects often solitary, introspective, or in ritual—embody a quiet power, challenging traditional portrayals of women in Filipino art. Velasco’s work celebrates the Filipina as strong, sensual, and self-possessed.
Her paintings have been exhibited widely, collected internationally, and featured in publications such as Allure, a monograph of her work. She is a core member of Malang’s Saturday Group, and continues to mentor young artists through Kulay Marikina, a collective she helped lead in her home city.
