Angelo Maristela: His art seeks to inspire and give back to God
Ask visual artist Angelo Maristela to share his story and chances are his starting point will be Qatar.
Angelo, his wife Lynn and their three children – sons Racco and Renfrew, and daughter Ressu — lived in this Middle Eastern country for seven years since 2009. Within this luxurious Arab monarchy, he worked for a wealthy businessman who owned posh residences, hotels and luxury buildings. He painted, produced one abstract art after another which were hung in the buildings and chains of restaurants his employer owned.
“I must have created 300 paintings,” said Angelo when interviewed by The FilAm. “I must have created a portfolio of artworks that I consider part of the lasting legacy I left with the nation that became home to me and my family for over seven years.”
Angelo also made history as the only Filipino artist, at the time, to be accepted into an exclusive Qatari art group, composed mainly of Arab artists. His works were featured frequently in magazines, newspapers, and online publications.
He held several exhibitions in Qatar, most of them solo shows. One was a horse-themed exhibit sponsored by one of the country’s most powerful figures—the chairman of Qatar’s largest conglomerate. The exhibition took place at a vast commercial facility in Al Samariya, which also housed a horse track and riding school. The event received coverage in Qatar TV and various print publications, further cementing Angelo’s reputation in the region.
Since relocating to the United States in 2016, Angelo—though relatively new to the American art scene—has already made a notable impact. He has participated in various exhibitions across the country: New Jersey, New York, Nevada, and Florida. One of his most significant projects was a massive 27-by-8-foot mural displayed at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Times Square, New York City. Centered on themes of environmental conservation and global challenges, the mural, which was installed shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic, proved hauntingly prophetic. It depicted scenes of lockdowns, wildfires, and species extinction—realities that soon unfolded in the months that followed.
In Connecticut where he resides, he paints at midnight when his family is safely in bed and he is alone in his thoughts masterfully creating, sketching, applying paint to canvas.
“That’s the best time for me to paint,” he said.
Realism is his realm. His lifelike reimaging of General Douglas MacArthur was recently unveiled at a West Point ceremony where it was bequeathed to the permanent collection of the U.S. Military’s prestigious museum. He finally completed portraits of four statesmen and generals Douglas MacArthur, Ulysses Grant, George Patton, and Dwight Eisenhower commissioned by a prominent political personality.
He and his family were granted permanent residency under the EB1-A category— the Alien of Extraordinary Ability visa also known as the Einstein Visa reserved for individuals who are exceptional in their fields.
Awards and milestones
Raised by a single mother, young Angelo often found himself alone in their modest apartment in Manila while his mother worked. Though kind neighbors occasionally checked in, he spent many hours by himself, finding solace and stimulation in scraps of paper, pencils, pens, and scissors. The paper figures he fashioned lacked faces, prompting him to invent and draw them—an exercise that sharpened his imagination and ignited a lifelong passion for portraiture. By his teenage years, he was already earning from commissioned portrait works.
He initially pursued a degree in AB English at St. Paul University in Tuguegarao, but ultimately followed his true calling, enrolling in the Bachelor of Fine Arts program with a major in Advertising at Far Eastern University in Manila. His academic excellence was evident—he consistently earned top marks for his projects and was frequently exempted from exams. His professors recognized his talent early on and continue to hold him in high regard to this day.
His creative work was celebrated with several community awards. Between 2017 and 2018, he received special recognitions. He was awarded a Citation of Honor by the Borough of Queens, New York, acknowledging his excellence in the arts and his civic engagement. Additionally, he was honored with the Award of Excellence for the Arts by PACCAL, recognizing his artistic influence and dedication to the cultural landscape. In 2019, Angelo achieved another milestone when he was named the recipient of the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Award for Excellence in the Arts presented by the Knights of Rizal organization.
His artistic inclinations extended beyond the canvas. In his youth, he dabbled in acting, appeared in films, theater, and television shows, and took on roles in ramp, fashion, print, and TV ad commercial modeling. He also possesses a gift for singing and voice mimicry, further underscoring his diverse creative talents.
“My artwork is geared toward giving back to God for the talent that He blessed me with,” he would say in response to praise about his art. “My goal is not just to provide a feast for the eyes but also to inspire.” – Cristina DC Pastor.
Artist’s statement:
I am a hyperrealist but the vastness of art inspires me to go beyond the confines of a single style. I have since expanded into contemporary art, dedicating years to researching and developing a distinctive form of abstraction that can only be associated with me. The materials I use are not ordinarily found in stores—they are the result of meticulous experimentation. Those familiar with my pieces can recognize them instantly through their characteristic flow, texture, and brushstrokes—my artistic DNA.
