It took me a long time to describe myself as an artist. Being called an “artist” made me uncomfortable because I didn’t feel worthy of the title. When I looked at other people’s paintings, it only reminded me that my work is objectively flawed, unsophisticated and looked too fun to be called art. And for the longest time, I had a difficult time reconciling that with being a professional artist. While living and teaching in Baguio, my flatmate walked in while I was drawing and exclaimed, “Oh, you’re an artist! You have to do something with you art.” It was she who convinced me that I was, in fact, an artist. Without her telling me so in 2003, I don’t think I’d be doing what I do today.

Describing my work and putting it into words has always been a struggle. It took me decades to believe that the imperfection and joy in art is valid. Also, it was only this year, after looking back at my body of work, that I realised that my art is actually just a story. My story, my journey. And then ultimately, it became my clients’ story and journey. One of the gifts of doing my kind of art is hearing collectors tell me the tales of their lives, which is what I use to translate into commissioned artworks that hold meaning for them. It may not mean anything to others, but for the one looking at it, the ones who had it made, that painting is them. 

And that is the best way to describe my work, that it’s a story that started in Baguio’s winding roads of Kennon Road to the colorful Peranakan houses of Singapore. My art pays tribute to the cultures and communities that helped me along the way. Without the 12 years spent living in Singapore, I don’t think I’d have the kind of art I have today as my palette uses the colors of the Peranakan culture.

In the beginning, I simply visualised my paintings hanging in beautiful homes.  More than 21 years into my career, I have become an independent artist with an international client base of collectors scattered across 15 cities around the world. Without fanfare, my dream had come to fruition without me realising it, tiptoeing quietly but steadily through an unconventional and indirect route sans gallery representation.

Collectors never asked if I studied fine arts. No one has ever asked which gallery I belonged to or how many exhibits I’ve had. To many collectors who sincerely believe in what they see and how it makes them feel, sometimes the art in and of itself is simply enough. The internet is truly a gamechanger because it allows all creatives such as myself to by-pass the gatekeepers of the industry, levelling the playing field and allowing all of us to build a career beyond the rules of the traditional art world.

Ultimately, my work is a reminder that artists who prosper and empower themselves can also empower other artists to empower themselves.

10 Things About Me
1
My name is Cherie Altea but some people know me as @thejarofsalt. I missed the UPCAT for Fine Arts weekend back in 1992. As a result, I ended up finishing with a BA in Psychology from Ateneo De Manila University in 1997, a degree I am so grateful for and still passionate about to this day.
2
Between 1997 and 2010, I wore many hats from various industries starting with teaching Public Speaking and ESL (English As A Second Language), banking, a modelling agency, public relations and freelance food writing.
3
I lived around the Peranakan district of Singapore for 12 years. In 2016, I joined a group exhibit for the annual Art Trek by the Philippine Embassy. Shortly after, I had my first ever solo show at 40 years-old. It was a sold-out opening night.
4
When I received a breast cancer diagnosis in December 2018, the first thing I did was sign an exhibit contract for 2019 and set a meeting for the week after my 10-hour surgery. The result was a collaboration with a Singapore jewellery brand for the benefit of the Breast Cancer Foundation, followed by a group exhibit with a global collective of female artists based in Singapore.
5
I moved back to Manila in 2022 with my dog Jones. 8 years since my solo show in Singapore, I finally have my first solo exhibit in Manila. In the midst of exhibit preparations, I was invited to join a group show of Filipino artists with the support of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore just last June. Two of the exhibited paintings are included in this month's show.
6
In the beginning, I visualised my paintings hanging in beautiful homes. More than 21 years into my career, I have become an independent artist with an international client base of collectors scattered across 15 cities around the world, namely: New York, Pittsburgh, Arizona, Texas, D.C., Singapore, Koh Samui, Manila, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Vancouver, Atherton, Sydney, Bath, and Bahrain. Without fanfare, my dream had come to fruition, tiptoeing ever so quietly but steadily through an unconventional and indirect route sans gallery representation.
7
The internet is truly a gamechanger because it allows all creatives such as myself to by-pass the gatekeepers of the industry, levelling the playing field and allowing artists to build a career beyond the limitations of the traditional art world. Ultimately, my work is a reminder that artists who prosper and empower themselves can also empower other artists to empower themselves.
8
I celebrated my 5th year of remission with my first solo show in Manila timed for the Breast Cancer Awareness month of October as a dialogue for all those who have learned to find joy and meaning beyond grief and loss.
9
I welcome each morning with a spring in my step no matter how lousy yesterday was. Ageing, and all the white strands, wrinkles and sagging skin that come with it, is something I happily welcome with open arms because growing old is a privilege not bestowed on many.
10
I no longer make grand plans for the future. I now find comfort in living one sunrise at a time because tomorrow is enough.