Bio
Cherisse Alcantara (b. Philippines) is a Filipina-American painter based in San Francisco. She received her MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (2021) and her BA Arts from the University of California-Berkeley (2013). Her practice is anchored in the familiar and reimagines the spaces of the everyday. While engaging with the observed world and the formal language of painting, she conjures imaginary abstract spaces. Drawn to light, luminosity, saturated color, abstraction, and the particularities within her subjects, she works with thinly layered paint and iridescent pigments. In her recent works, she is absorbed by the mundane moments, textures and shapes that fill contemporary urban life. Inspired by the areas she lived in or frequented which includes the built environment and nearby landscapes, her art reflects upon transience and the need to dwell longer.
CV
CHERISSE ALCANTARA
(B. Philippines) San Francisco, CA
cherissealcantara@gmail.com
www.cherissealcantara.com
EDUCATION
2021 Master of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Bachelors in Art, Art Practice, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2017 Suggestive Narratives, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA
2014 Wendy Sussman Prize in Painting, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California-Berkeley
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Flow, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
Contemporary Color, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, NY
2021 Excuse Me, Highlights, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
Excuse Me, Can I See Your ID - Part Two, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
MFA Thesis Show, 120th ASE, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Artmaking in Pandemic Times, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2020 Art is Essential, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
Alternatives ’20: Art House online show, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Intuitive Play, Gallery 8, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2019 Reflection(s), Anne Bryan Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
48 Pillars, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2018 Jack Knife Studios 2018 Exhibition, Jack Knife Gallery, Oakland, CA
A Reckoning: Botanicals and Beyond, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
With Liberty and Justice For Some, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
Excuse Me, Can I See Your ID?, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
2017 4th Annual Juried Art Show, Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA
Juried by Carin Adams (Oakland Museum) and Sarah Roberts (SFMOMA)
2016 Here, Part 1: 2016 BAC Artists Annual Exhibition, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
Foursquared 2016, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2015 Pence Gallery 40th Anniversary, Pence Gallery, Davis CA
Fusion, Arc Gallery, San Francisco CA
2013 Honors Show: That’s What’s Up, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California-Berkeley
Senior Show, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California-Berkeley
AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS/RESIDENCIES
2021 The Hopper Prize, Spring 2021 Finalist
The Murray Dessner Memorial Travel Award, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Fine Arts Venture Fund 2021, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Artistic Excellence Award, MFA Merit Scholarship, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Jentel Artist Residency Program, Winter/Spring 2019, Jentel Foundation, Wyoming
2018 NCWCA Mentorship Program Mentee Award, The Northern California Women's Caucus for Art,
San Francisco, CA
2017 Third Prize Award Recipient, 4th Annual Juried Art Show, Juried by Carin Adams (Oakland Museum) and
Sarah Roberts (SFMOMA), Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA
2013 Wendy Sussman Undergraduate Award in Painting, University of California-Berkeley
Honors Studio Recipient, Department of Art Practice, University of California-Berkeley
Excellence in Drawing, Department of Art Practice, University of California-Berkeley
PRESS/PUBLICATIONS
2022 Reed Magazine Issue 155, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2021 The Hopper Prize Journal, Artist Interview feature, October 2021
Dumb: Brute Reason, PAFA Student Journal, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2019 Filipino American Artist Directory 2019 Publication, Edited by Janna Añonuevo Langholz
PRESENTATIONS
2021 PAFA Pours: Toast to ASE: Graduate Students, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum
Philadelphia, PA, May 18, 2021
Thesis Symposium, MFA Thesis Presentation, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
TEACHING
2020 Graduate Teaching Assistant to Renee Foulks: Advanced Drawing, Advanced Painting and Life
Painting (in-person and online), Fall 2020, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Teaching Assistant to Bruce Samuelson: Portrait Painting, Spring 2020, Pennsylvania Academy of the
Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
(B. Philippines) San Francisco, CA
cherissealcantara@gmail.com
www.cherissealcantara.com
EDUCATION
2021 Master of Fine Arts, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2013 Bachelors in Art, Art Practice, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
SOLO AND TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2017 Suggestive Narratives, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA
2014 Wendy Sussman Prize in Painting, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California-Berkeley
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 Flow, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
Contemporary Color, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, NY
2021 Excuse Me, Highlights, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
Excuse Me, Can I See Your ID - Part Two, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
MFA Thesis Show, 120th ASE, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Artmaking in Pandemic Times, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2020 Art is Essential, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
Alternatives ’20: Art House online show, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Intuitive Play, Gallery 8, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2019 Reflection(s), Anne Bryan Gallery, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
48 Pillars, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2018 Jack Knife Studios 2018 Exhibition, Jack Knife Gallery, Oakland, CA
A Reckoning: Botanicals and Beyond, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
With Liberty and Justice For Some, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
Excuse Me, Can I See Your ID?, Vessel Gallery, Oakland, CA
2017 4th Annual Juried Art Show, Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA
Juried by Carin Adams (Oakland Museum) and Sarah Roberts (SFMOMA)
2016 Here, Part 1: 2016 BAC Artists Annual Exhibition, Berkeley Art Center, Berkeley, CA
Foursquared 2016, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2015 Pence Gallery 40th Anniversary, Pence Gallery, Davis CA
Fusion, Arc Gallery, San Francisco CA
2013 Honors Show: That’s What’s Up, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California-Berkeley
Senior Show, Worth Ryder Gallery, University of California-Berkeley
AWARDS/FELLOWSHIPS/RESIDENCIES
2021 The Hopper Prize, Spring 2021 Finalist
The Murray Dessner Memorial Travel Award, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Fine Arts Venture Fund 2021, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Artistic Excellence Award, MFA Merit Scholarship, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Jentel Artist Residency Program, Winter/Spring 2019, Jentel Foundation, Wyoming
2018 NCWCA Mentorship Program Mentee Award, The Northern California Women's Caucus for Art,
San Francisco, CA
2017 Third Prize Award Recipient, 4th Annual Juried Art Show, Juried by Carin Adams (Oakland Museum) and
Sarah Roberts (SFMOMA), Piedmont Center for the Arts, Piedmont, CA
2013 Wendy Sussman Undergraduate Award in Painting, University of California-Berkeley
Honors Studio Recipient, Department of Art Practice, University of California-Berkeley
Excellence in Drawing, Department of Art Practice, University of California-Berkeley
PRESS/PUBLICATIONS
2022 Reed Magazine Issue 155, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
2021 The Hopper Prize Journal, Artist Interview feature, October 2021
Dumb: Brute Reason, PAFA Student Journal, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
2019 Filipino American Artist Directory 2019 Publication, Edited by Janna Añonuevo Langholz
PRESENTATIONS
2021 PAFA Pours: Toast to ASE: Graduate Students, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum
Philadelphia, PA, May 18, 2021
Thesis Symposium, MFA Thesis Presentation, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
TEACHING
2020 Graduate Teaching Assistant to Renee Foulks: Advanced Drawing, Advanced Painting and Life
Painting (in-person and online), Fall 2020, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Teaching Assistant to Bruce Samuelson: Portrait Painting, Spring 2020, Pennsylvania Academy of the
Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
© 2022 Cherisse Alcantara