Jon Poblador

Jon Poblador is a Filipino American contemporary artist and art teacher who has been quietly making art for the past twenty years. He has an MFA degree in painting from the University of Pennsylvania and has modestly exhibited his work in Philadelphia, New York City, Phoenix, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong — where he currently resides with his wife, Xue Ying, and their mildly-crazy dog, Otis.

Balancing life as an artist and a full-time art teacher hasn’t been easy, but it’s been my reality for nearly twenty years. It’s something I’m proud of—finding a way to keep both passions alive, even with the compromises it takes. Teaching has always been something I love, but art has been my calling since high school. The two are constantly in a give-and-take, sometimes working together beautifully, other times clashing, and progress often feels slow—but it’s all part of the journey.

I once came across a quote by British art critic Peter Fuller, who mentioned something about how, in the absence of God, the aesthetic experiences we find in (all forms of) art offer our only glimpse of transcendence. That idea feels particularly meaningful to me.

The artworks here are the physical and visual manifestations of that ongoing search for something beyond—an elusive goal that I (and many other artists) continue to strive for.

Artist Statement

Repetition is an important ritual in many forms of religion. In some types of meditation, for example, a person clears their mind of thought to focus on each breath or sound. This can create a sense of calmness, timelessness, and a heightened state of awareness. This feeling of elation or spiritual enlightenment is often seen as an encounter with the divine.

My work explores meditation through the use of marks and rectangular shapes within a grid. The process of creation is as important as the visual result. By repeating shapes, paint layers, and marks, I try to express the tranquility and concentration central to the practice.

The grid represents order, interconnectedness, and balance. Compositionally, and concerning color, patterns fall into two categories: mostly monochromatic pieces that show a clear, uncluttered mind; and multi-color arrangements that reflect the constant ebb and flow of thoughts. Each artwork invites viewers to engage in observation and quiet introspection.

Take a look at Poblador’s CV.