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Fernando Modesto
Fernando Modesto was born in Quezon City, Philippines. He is commonly known as Mode (even his wife and kids refer to him by this nickname). Virtually penniless, he began his art career at 10 years old, painting billboards of movie advertisements so he wouldn't go hungry. His parents had a brood of 12 children and there wasn't a lot of money to go around. Through the help of relatives who adopted him, Modesto finished his Bachelor's degree in Architecture at the University of Santo Tomas and went to study fine arts at Central St. Martin's School of Art and Design in London on grant by the British Council.

Fernando 'Mode' Modesto describes himself as an/a artist, husband, father, raconteur, enfant terible, humorist and an erotic artist. Modesto's artworks are mainly paintings with the universe as the theme. Most of his artworks have an angel as the protagonist or the main figure in the art piece. His paintings are of the allegorical/erotic kind since the late 1980's until today. He had numerous solo exhibitions. Aside from painting, Modesto also enjoys creating experimental and installation works.

Rise to Fame
Modesto, being an eccentric and adventurous artist, he is actually one of the fist experimental artists in the Philippines. His early works were radical to the eyes of the masses, which allowed Modesto to make a name for himself in the art world since he is 'unique'. Modesto’s paintings act like a cyclical record keeping of moments evoked by personal experiences, travels, even wistful imagining – all fleeting and mutable, transcribed as though on magic slates. These seem to be paralleled by the way paint flows on the canvas, their colors thinning out to reveal traces of several color washes underneath.

He gained quite a following when he won numerous awards around the globe including the following: Grand Prize - Art Association of the Philippines Annual Competition and Exhibition ‘81; 13 Young Artists Award - Cultural Center of the Philippines; Gold Medal - UNESCO Poster Calendar Contest; British Council Grant to England ‘83. He made a fortune selling his erotic and heavenly themed artworks with the help of his eccentric patrons.

Marriage and Family Life
Fernando Modesto is married to Eleanor Modesto (formerly: San Jose). The pair met at a funeral parlor when a mutual friend died after being hit by a car in the 1970s. The lovebirds shacked up together at a time when live-in partners were taboo. The couple always jokes that they decided to marry after Eleanor's Indonesian bosses told her they would only pay for Modesto's flight to Indonesia if he was a husband, and not a boyfriend. Three years ago, the couple decided to come back to the Philippines for good. They are blessed with two daughters, Paola and Roxanne.

Exhibits

 * 2001	Works on Paper, The Drawing Room, Makati City
 * 1997	Finale Art Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
 * 1994	Finale Art Gallery, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City
 * 1993	Gallerie Artek, Copenhagen, Denmark Uchida, Tokyo
 * Heritage Gallery 1988	“The Picasso Jazz Band Series Paintings”,
 * The Small Gallery, CCP, Manila 1986	“Berlin-Manila Exchange Paintings &
 * Drawings”, Pinaglabanan Galleries,
 * Manila 1985	“Five Artists in March Paintings”,
 * Pinaglabanan Galleries, Manila “Paris Matches- Watercolors on Papers”,
 * Hiraya Gallery, Manila 1984	“Circus- Watercolors on Papers”,
 * The Small Gallery, CCP, Manila 1983	“Paintings, Pastels, Lithograph &
 * Drawings”, The Met Gallery, Manila “Lithographs”, British Council Centre,
 * Manila 1982	“China Photographs”, Museum Hallway,
 * Cultural Center of the Philippines,Manila
 * Awards & Distinctions: Cultural Center of the Philippines -
 * 13 Young Artists Awardee Gold Medal - Art Association of the Philippines Annual Competition & Exhibition Gold Medal - UNESCO Poster Calendar Contest Grand Prize - Art Association of the Philippines Annual Competition & Exhibition 1981 British Council Grant to England

Awards

 * Grand Prize - Art Association of the Philippines Annual Competition and Exhibition ‘81
 * 13 Young Artists Award - Cultural Center of the Philippines
 * Gold Medal - UNESCO Poster Calendar Contest
 * British Council Grant to England ‘83
 * British Council Grant to England ‘83