Born and raised between the calm beaches and dense forests of Sorsogon, Philippines, Ace is a ceramic artist based in the high desert of Santa Fe. His work explores the intersections of Filipino and American cultures and the ways identity is shaped by migration, memory, and belonging. Working primarily with clay, he combines large wheel-thrown forms with organic sculptural elements, allowing the material to move between vessel and body, structure and landscape.
Ace's work is also a way of reconnecting with Filipino ancestry and precolonial ways of understanding spirituality through clay. He is particularly interested in grief as a shared human experience; something that connects us across cultures, generations, and places. Through his practice, he uses clay as a way to explore what is remembered, what is lost, and what can be carried forward.