Tomas Concepcion



March 31 - April 30, 2007
210 Loring St.,  1300 Pasay City, Philippines
  

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ROME BASED FILIPINO ARTIST/ LABOR LEADER, Tomas F. Concepcion returns to the country not to conquer the House of  Representatives as he did in the 9th Congress, when he was the voice of the Overseas Filipino Workers, but to stage a long overdue one man show. He presents Homage to Michelangelo at Galleria Duemila on March 31-April 30.

A true-blue Maranaw royalty, Concepcion was born in Marawi City and is the youngest brother of the late Human Rights Commissioner Mary Concepcion Bautista. At 17, he left for the U.S. and studied at the San Francisco State College where he majored in Painting and Theater Design. 

After graduation he joined the Warwick Theaters in New England as their Set Designer. He rendered his talents to musicals like “South Pacific,” “Kismet,” and “Pal Joey.” Concepcion later moved to Montreal, Canada to further his studies at the Ecole des 
Beaux Arts, at the same time serving as Art Director for Morgan's Department Store and designing sets for Trinity Theater. He traveled to Europe to tour museums, finally settling in Rome, where he setup a thriving studio.

His early years in Rome, gained him a reputation of a much sought after portrait painter for the nobility and intellectuals, such as Prince Steno Borghese, Duchess Nicoletta de Serracapriola, Soprano Leontyne Price, conductor Thomas Shippers, Banker Baron Leon Lambert and film actors like Silvana Mangano and Marcello Mastroianni.

After more than 40 years in the arts, Concepcion is known for his eloquent bronzes and paintings. His remarkable sculptures includes that of Pope John Paul II displayed in Guam and Mexico and that of Ninoy Aquino at the People's Park, EDSA. Private collectors and top dignitaries around the globe are collecting his pieces. His exhibitions gained admiration in Rome, Paris, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Manila.

He is returning to the country with an exhibition entitled Homage to Michelangelo. He is presenting large scale paintings, prints and bronzes. He believes that Michelangelo is the greatest painter and sculptor since the 15th Century Renaissance, and was the first modernist to free art from the stiff and strict stereotypes. His study of Michelangelo has freed his art from bourgeois constraints and repressions.