Kenneth Montegrande:

Artist Kenneth Montegrande, which means "great mountain" in Spanish, is truly headed for greater heights.

- JOANNE RAE M. RAMIREZ

Galleons and lighthouses, flowers and moons — these are but some of the visual elements that wowed collectors and followers of Kenneth during his 22nd solo exhibit, which was staged recently at the Galerie Joaquin in Rockwell. A self-taught abstract painter, Kenneth is reportedly the first Southeast Asian artist whose works are part of the collection of Japanese billionaire and art collector Yusaku Maezawa.

In "Beyond Limits," Kenneth introduced the Lighthouse and the Galleon series, through which he expands his signature cloud and seascapes "with themes of guidance, resilience and exploration." And in keeping with the layered, nuanced and somewhat contemplative nature of his works, the artist painted these new elements, not just with his masterful hands, but also with his heart.

Galleons, for one, are an ode to his childhood days in Malate, which included memories of admiring the once-cleaner waters of Manila Bay. "As a proud Manileño, I've always wanted to help preserve the city's culture and history. And the fact that galleons once sailed those waters always fascinated me," said the artist, who intends to include more of these historic ships in his upcoming shows.