Maria Jeona Zoleta

b. 1989

Maria Jeona Zoleta was born in Manila in 1989, where she lives and works. Her practice spans painting, drawing, textiles, video, sculpture and installation. In 2011 she graduated from the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman. In 2014 she was one of three winners of the Fernando Zóbel Prizes for Visual Art at the Ateneo Art Awards, which included a residency at Fontanelle Gallery and Studios in Adelaide. In 2015 she received the Thirteen Artists Award of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Zoleta grew up in the red-light district of Makati City, which informs her visual language. She often draws her motifs from popular culture, such as cartoon characters, teen stars and children's toys, and combines them with imagery of sexuality and fringe culture. Recent presentations include the Palais de Tokyo in Paris in 2019, Gajah Gallery in Singapore in 2023 and a solo exhibition at Artists Unlimited in Bielefeld in 2025.

Works

Biography

Education 2011 Graduated from the College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City Solo exhibitions (selection) 2025 Dirty Ice Cream in a Poor Party, Artists Unlimited, Bielefeld 2015 dial-up speed dirty ice cream or the iridescent hot shower fur baby planets & teen starz, 1335MABINI, Manila 2014 The Unicorn Club, 1335MABINI, Manila Group exhibitions (selection) 2023 In Excess: An Exuberance of Philippine Art, Gajah Gallery, Singapore 2019 City Prince/sses, Palais de Tokyo, Paris Awards 2015 Thirteen Artists Award, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila 2014 Ateneo Art Awards – Fernando Zóbel Prizes for Visual Art, Manila (with a residency at Fontanelle Gallery and Studios, Adelaide)