Pacita Abad, European Mask 1990. Tate. © Courtesy of the Pacita Abad Art Estate.
11 rooms in Artist and Society
These quilted canvases celebrate global artistic traditions and Indigenous cultures through their bold colours and sculpted surfaces
Pacita Abad’s vibrant paintings and textile works combine many traditional art forms. These include Indonesian batik (cloth-dying using wax), Korean ink-brush painting, macramé (knotted textiles) from Papua New Guinea, and sewing techniques from the Philippines. Born to a political family in the Philippines, Abad studied law before turning to art after she moved to the United States. She later travelled across Asia, Africa and Latin America, where the social realities and creativity she saw inspired her work. Abad said, ‘My paintings tell the stories of people ... that I have met and talked to along my way.’
Abad transformed her paintings into three-dimensional, free-hanging canvases, which she called trapuntos, the Italian word for quilted embroidery. She stitched and stuffed the textiles, adorning them with objects she found on her travels, such as shells, beads and mirrors. Her layered compositions speak to her experiences of migration and encounters across cultures. As the artist once observed, ‘I truly believe that, as an artist, I have a social responsibility for my painting, to try to make our world a little better.’
Pacita Abad, European Mask 1990
To make European Mask, Abad used the European art technique of screen-printing with acrylic paint. The title plays on a convention in western art history that often crudely summarised cultural artefacts from non-western cultures as ‘African’ or ‘Asian’ rather than naming the country of origin. The rich tapestry of textures, colours and found objects in the work reflect Abad’s commitment to celebrate different cultures. As the artist said, ‘Art is for other people. It’s not just for yourself.’
Gallery label, April 2025
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artworks in Pacita Abad
Pacita Abad, Bacongo VI 1986
The title of the series this work belongs to – Bacongo – references the Bantu peoples, an ethnic grouping of about 400 distinct Indigenous peoples across Central Africa. Abad was inspired by bifwebe face masks, used by the Songye and Luba peoples in ritualistic ceremonies to channel spirits. Abad introduced a sculptural effect by flattening the rounded forms of the masks and extending them onto canvases, which she stuffed and sewed. She then added abstract patterns, bright colours and reflective elements.
Gallery label, April 2025
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artworks in Pacita Abad
Pacita Abad, Bacongo III 1986
The title of the series this work belongs to – Bacongo – references the Bantu peoples, an ethnic grouping of about 400 distinct Indigenous peoples across Central Africa. Abad was inspired by bifwebe face masks, used by the Songye and Luba peoples in ritualistic ceremonies to channel spirits. Abad introduced a sculptural effect by flattening the rounded forms of the masks and extending them onto canvases, which she stuffed and sewed. She then added abstract patterns, bright colours and reflective elements.
Gallery label, April 2025
3/3
artworks in Pacita Abad
Art in this room
Pacita Abad
European Mask
1990
Pacita Abad
Bacongo VI
1986
Pacita Abad
Bacongo III
1986