ARTIST STATEMENT
There is a certain kind of clarity in being able to look at the world—and people— in ways others cannot, to see beyond the surface and judge not just what is in front of you but what lies beneath. In my work, I explore the tension between what is expected and what is real, between the mask we wear and the truth we often refuse to see. It is a constant push and pull, both within myself and in the world around me. I have learned that to truly understand others, I must also question myself—and that judgment, while often harsh, is sometimes the key to seeing things for what they truly are.
I use surrealism as a tool to dive deep into the layers of perception. The multi-iris eyes that appear in my work are a direct reflection of how I, and perhaps others like me, see the world—not just with one vision, but through multiple lenses, each seeing something different, something hidden. These eyes do not just reveal—they judge, they probe, and they confront. They are an extension of the mind, always analyzing, always questioning, and never satisfied with the surface.
Being an LGBT, I have often felt that my existence is already a form of judgment in a world that expects conformity. But I have learned to embrace that feeling—to judge and be judged. It is in these judgments that I find meaning, even in the most surreal of circumstances. My art is a reflection of that duality: the desire to be seen for who I truly am while acknowledging that the eyes watching me will always have their own assumptions, opinions and interpretations.
In every brushstroke, I am pulling apart the world I know, examining the contradictions that exist in all of us. The worlds I create are places where reality warps and bends, revealing the discomfort and beauty of what lies beneath. It is through these surreal landscapes that I seek to express what is often unspoken—the feelings of alienation, self-awareness, and identity that shape how I see others and how I see myself. In the end, my work is confrontation, an invitation to look deeper and judge not with condemnation, but with an understanding that we are all more than the sum of our parts.

ARLO JAKE LAGMAY
Architect and Visual Artist
Born in The Philippines, 1991
Lives and works in Basel, Switzerland
Visarte Basel Newcomer 2025
Represented by Eleven Ten Studio, artist-run gallery, Basel
PRESS:
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Hi- Fructose Magazine Volume 71, "Fever Dreams at Brassworks Gallery", 2024
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Roots and Wings Magazine, Filipino Magazine in Europe, Quarter 2, 2024, Volume 13, Issue 2
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Giorgio Mondadori, “I AM YOU” in Florence Biennale Catalog, 2023
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Embassy of The Philippines in Berne, “Arlo Jake Lagmay’s SWISA Collection Exhibition”
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Ako ay Pilipino, Pinoy Artists in Florence Biennale XIV, by Pia Gonzalez-Abucay (www.akoaypilipino.eu)
G A L L E R Y P H O T O S
FLORENCE BIENNALE
FEVER DREAMS GROUP EXHIBIT AT BRASSWORKS GALLERY, PORTLAND OREGON, USA
AUDACIOUS DUO EXHIBIT AT ELEVEN TEN STUDIO, BASEL, SWITZERLAND
BASEL BASED 2023 GROUP EXHIBIT
SOLO EXHIBIT AT THE PHILIPPINE EMBASSY
SOLO EXHIBIT AT ZUM SCHMALE WURF, BASEL, SWITZERLAND