Artist Betsy Westendorp’s granddaughter to hold first solo exhibit

Spanish artist and jeweler Cristina Grisar will be holding her first solo exhibit, and she will hold it in the Philippines.

"The Bejewelled Cosmos" will feature Grisar's latest painterly and photographic output, as well as "armor-like" examples of her jewelry work. It will be on exhibit at the Ayala Museum this month.

Cristina Grisar's painting 'Wild'

'Ice Lands' from Grisar's Worlds Within series

Bioarquitectura ring from Grisar's jewelry collections

Coral Groove ring from Grisar's jewelry collections

Grisar, who grew up in Spain and lives in Chile, has a Philippine connection. She is the granddaughter of renowned artist and Presidential Medal of Merit for Art and Culture awardee Betsy Westendorp. According to Grisar, she had always envisioned that her first solo exhibit would be in the Philippines.

"My mother was born and raised in Manila until the age of 12 and it is through her that I learned about the Philippines. I grew up listening to her childhood stories, all of them placed in Manila," she said.

"My lola, Betsy Westendorp...has been completely settled in Manila since 2009. Her happiness and fulfillment here as the great artist and persona that she is, and the wonderful feedback from the Filipino people who have been very supportive of her art, have always been very important for me, as well as being hugely uplifting and motivating."

For this reason, her holding her first solo exhibit in the Philippines is an "emotional matter" for the artist.

"[...]I guess [it's] a destiny thing too. Isn't it amazing when your dreams come true? For me, this moment is absolutely precious, and I’m enjoying it like mad. I feel very fortunate to be here and gratitude is a wonderful feeling to experience," she said. — BM, GMA News

“The Bejewelled Cosmos” will open on February 12. It will be on view until February 28 at the Ayala Museum.