Negros is an island known for its artists, artisans, and art aficionados. However, in the 1977 book of Manuel Duldulao, "The Philippine Art Scene", there is only one Negrense female named as part of the driving force of art in the island. That was Anita Feria.
In the late 1970s, when the sugar industry fueled a vibrant art scene in Bacolod, many artists from Metro Manila flew in to Bacolod to work with local visual artists and also explore new methods of working in spacious areas and with up-to-date facilities in a ceramic factory. That factory was Anaware Ceramics by Anita Feria.
Anita Feria was not just a ceramic factory owner, she was an artist in her own right. At one point, after the formation of the Art Association of Bacolod, she became the President of the AAB. Through this time of the mid 1970s, well known artists (now National Artists) came over to tinker around and explore how to apply their art in ceramics. Manansala came. Jose Joya came. So did Raul Isidro, Tiny Nuyda and other artists from the Saturday Group.
Mrs. Feria says through a recent interview, "It helped a lot seeing these artists work. Their work inspired me."
True enough, the inspiration is so palpable that fifty years later, Anita Feria is still painting! In her 80s, Anita Feria was one of the guests of honor who cut the ribbon at the 50th Anniversary show of the Art Association of Bacolod. She even had a beautiful piece exhibited in that show. A 2025 work of art in acrylic, drawing some inspiration from the abstractionists who once experimented in her factory.
Through more than 50 years of art, Mrs. Feria has seen her work travel as much as she has. Back in the seventies, her work was exhibited in the lobby of the World Bank in Washington D.C., Dartmouth University in New Hampshire, and in the bustling galleries of Manila like the Galerie Bleu at the top of Rustan's.
True enough, the inspiration is so palpable that fifty years later, Anita Feria is still painting! In her 80s, Anita Feria was one of the guests of honor who cut the ribbon at the 50th Anniversary show of the Art Association of Bacolod. She even had a beautiful piece exhibited in that show. A 2025 work of art in acrylic, drawing some inspiration from the abstractionists who once experimented in her factory.
Through more than 50 years of art, Mrs. Feria has seen her work travel as much as she has. Back in the seventies, her work was exhibited in the lobby of the World Bank in Washington D.C., Dartmouth University in New Hampshire, and in the bustling galleries of Manila like the Galerie Bleu at the top of Rustan's.
This March, in celebration of Women's Month, Annete Feria is still exhibiting her work along with the rest of the ladies from the AAB. Proof that when one is inspired, the art just keeps on flowing.
Article and photos by: Lloyd Tronco
