2017

Romson Regarde Bustillo

Dante Red waiting for the #7
Collagraph, Stencil, 18 x 14 inches, 2017
Photo: Art and Soul Photography

Romson Regarde Bustillo arrived in the United States at the age of nine. He and his family immigrated to Seattle from Cagayan de Oro City, Mindanao Island in the Philippines. He is an interdisciplinary artist working in printmaking, painting, and installation art. His work often explores place and context, how objects, found gestures, and visual cues modify, enhance, and/or divert meanings.

In the early years of his development as an artist, Romson maintained a studio in the renowned Pioneer Square artist workspace, the 619 Western Building. While at the 619 Western, Romson knew Conductive Garboil Grant founder Su Job, learning from her and other mentor artists like Drake Deknatel. In 2002, he moved to New York and later returned to Seattle in 2008.

An active teaching artist, Romson has taught extensively throughout the region at the Seattle Art Museum, Gage Academy, Tacoma Art Museum, Yesler Community Center, Seattle Urban League, Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, Coyote Central, Centrum, Asian Counseling and Referral Services, and many other non-profit and community-based organizations. He has been an artist-in-residence at the James Washington Jr. Foundation and Pratt Fine Arts Center.

His work is included in numerous public collections including the City of Seattle and City of Tacoma Portable Works Collections, CenturyLink Field, Regional Arts and Culture Council in Portland, and the Washington State Arts Commission.

In 2016, Romson received the Artist Trust GAP Seattle Art Dealer's Association (SADA) Award. Prior to the SADA Award, he also received two Artist Trust GAPs to document new works and for research travel in the Philippines.

Romson is well-travelled, having spent extended periods of time in Spain, the Philippines, and Latin and Central America.

Visit Romson's website.