rowena federico finn
filipina futurism - mixed media fiber art
ARTIST STATEMENT
As far as I can observe, identity is the fuel for every vehicle that moves humanity’s progress forward or backward.
My work explores identity, belonging, and rejection—their inherent power and the rippling effects they have on families, communities, and the planet. I merge my personal experiences as a Filipina-American with indigenous materials from my homeland to examine how patriarchy, misogyny, consumerism, and colonialism carve deeply into both the human spirit and the land itself.
Through meticulous hand-sewing and labor-intensive processes, I create space for reflection on the destructive nature of these power structures—how they erode authenticity and sever our connection to our roots and the Earth. My practice is a means of reaching back to my indigenous ancestors, reviving and strengthening that lost bond.
Capiz shells and quilting hold deep significance in my work. Capiz, or windowpane oysters, appear delicate and translucent, yet they possess an unexpected resilience—much like people, whose true nature is only revealed upon closer inspection. Quilting, deeply rooted in American traditions, particularly within white and African-American communities, has little presence in Filipino or Filipino-American culture. By incorporating capiz shells into my quilts, I create a new visual and cultural language—one that speaks to the experience of being neither fully of one land nor the other, forging a path that bridges histories and redefines tradition.
ARTIST BIO
Rowena Federico Finn is a mixed-media fiber artist whose work combines Philippine indigenous materials with American crafting traditions to create what she calls Filipina-Futurism: intricate, tactile pieces that examine the generational trauma of colonization and other power structures on identity while casting an eye toward a brighter, culturally inclusive future. Her artistic practice is grounded in her experiences as a mother, teacher, and community activist. Rowena serves as the president of the Virginia Coalition of Visual Artists, vice chair of the WHRO Community Advisory Board, and a Virginia Commission for the Arts Teaching Artist. She has won numerous awards and exhibited in shows all over the country. One of her signature pieces has recently been added to the permanent collection of the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, VA. She lives in Virginia with her husband and three children.
photo courtesy of DCPG Photograpy
PRESS
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"Virginia MOCA exhibition highlights Commonwealth-based artists," WAVY TV 10, July 11, 2024
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"Virginia Beach artist brings Filipino quiltmaking to the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art," WHRV 89.5, May 15, 2024
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“Drawing from Experience,” pg. 25, by Emily Cayton, The Chrysler Quarterly Journal, Spring 2023
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“The Art of Inspiration,” by Melody Agbisit, PhD, Good to be Home Magazine, Issue No. 10, Fall 2022
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Splash 23: The Best of Watercolor, "On the Brink of Becoming Acquainted," Finalist, pg. 35; Artists Magazine & American Artist, Summer 2022
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"Virginia Watercolor Society exhibition returns to Portsmouth, running June to September," by Alison Johnson, The Virginian-Pilot, June 22, 2021
