Visual Art – Los Angeles

Kathreen Kaye Rodrigo Absuelo was born September 8, 1991 in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. She grew up in Ayala Alabang and Santa Rosa Laguna which are cities in northern Philippines, Manila. Her family moved to the United States at the age of 8, around the time her 2nd grade art teacher first recognized her gift. Before that, she attended Catholic Private Schools, which did not encourage her artistic skills. After two years of living in Dallas, her parents packed everything to move back to the Philippines. Her father was not impressed of the public education and wanted to return home. While all their belongings were on a ship back to Manila, her father unexpectedly decides to move the family to Seattle. Seattle is the place where Absuelo's interest in doodling as a child turned into her eternal devotion for painting and creating what appeals to her mind. With the support from some family members and friends, she was fortunately surrounded by, she finally became confident enough to have her work seen in the public eyes of strangers; rather than having them still be cooped up in the darkness of her room. Absuelo’s first art show took place at the 619 western building in Pioneer Square, for the July 2011 First Thursday Artwalk; A creative space she admired for years ever since she went to her first artwalk. This was her favorite place to go to see beautiful work by outside and local Seattle artists. Absuelo was very thankful to be able to have her work shown there for the first time. She quotes, “If I’m going to have my first art show, why not have it be in a place that holds most of my memories closest to my heart, the place I call home, Seattle”. A couple weeks after her first art show, she packed her things and moved down to Ventura, Ca. This sudden decision was made after the realization of the opportunities she could have living closer to Los Angeles - meeting new people she could connect with, in the arts culture. While living in southern California, Absuelo was in three art group shows for RAW Artists Hollywood, Chocolate & Art Los Angeles, and Daily Visuals Compton. After a year of living in Ventura, she decided to move back to Seattle to study engineering. Around springtime 2015 and years passed of non-art related academic studies, her lifelong passion tremendously re-awakened. Within two short months of painting again; Absuelo reconnected with Chocolate & Art for a group show in Los Angeles June 2015. She was also contacted to showcase her first solo art exhibition in years for Vera Project Gallery which was called "I N D R E A M S"- Seattle Center in Fall 2015. In winter 2016, she had another solo art exhibit “E N I G M A” at Paradiso Gallery in Capitol Hill where she featured three new paintings. To this day, Absuelo is continuously surrounded by positive energy, meeting creative and passionate friends that support her with this pursuit to be universally recognized as an artist.