Joanne Derecho

Joanne Derecho is an abstract expressionist artist whose work explores emotion, memory, identity, and the unseen connection between the inner self and the world around us.

Born in Iloilo, Philippines, and now based in Italy, Joanne draws from two cultural landscapes that have shaped her artistic language. Her paintings are intuitive and emotionally driven, often beginning without a predetermined image or narrative. Instead, color, movement, texture, and gesture become a direct way of expressing what cannot always be communicated through words.

Her approach to abstraction is deeply personal. Each painting becomes a visual record of a feeling, a moment, or an internal experience. Layers are built, disrupted, scraped back, and transformed, allowing traces of earlier gestures to remain visible beneath the surface. The resulting works invite the viewer to look beyond recognizable forms and connect with the emotion within the painting.

Joanne's practice is rooted in the belief that abstract expressionism can create a direct connection between the artist's soul and the viewer's own emotional experience. Rather than telling the viewer what to see, she leaves space for personal interpretation, allowing each work to evoke something differ...

University of the Philippines, Diliman

KABUHI — Solo Exhibition, 2026

Joanne Derecho recently presented Kabuhi, a solo exhibition of abstract expressionist paintings at Galleria d’Arte “Il Rondò” di Piazza Dante in Imperia, Italy.

Held in August 2026, the exhibition brought together a collection of works exploring emotion, identity, movement, and the human experience through color, texture, and spontaneous gesture.

Kabuhi — a Hiligaynon word connected to life and living — reflects Joanne’s Filipino roots and her continuing exploration of the relationship between memory, emotion, and identity. The exhibition represents an important step in her developing artistic practice in Italy, bringing together her cultural background and her contemporary approach to abstract expressionism.

The exhibition invited viewers to experience the paintings intuitively rather than searching for a predetermined meaning, emphasizing Joanne’s belief that abstract art can create a direct connection between the artist’s inner world and the viewer’s own emotions.