Bryan Teves’ inspiring story: From Henna to heartfelt heirlooms

At 40, Bryan Teves has quietly painted his way into the country’s creative consciousness — not through grand declarations, but through steady, soulful work. From Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur to Baguio’s vibrant streets, and now into the spotlight of Bonifacio Global City, Bryan’s story is not just one of art — it’s one of endurance, faith, and finding beauty.

He wasn’t born into privilege or polished studios. Bryan was a young boy from Sta. Lucia with a pencil in his hand and wonder in his eyes. In 2002, he earned a scholarship at the University of the Philippines Baguio under the Fine Arts program, but had to leave after two semesters — not due to failure, but out of necessity. Instead of returning home, he stayed in Baguio, surviving through henna tattoos on festival-goers, all while quietly building a life as an artist.

His beginnings were humble. Sketching in rented rooms, painting alone between clients, Bryan’s first “real” painting wasn’t sold — it was a school plate, long lost, but remembered deeply. Even then, the conversation between canvas and artist had begun.

Returning to Ilocos Sur years later, Bryan joined art competitions, sometimes resubmitting the same piece out of hope, not desperation. Recognition didn’t come easy. But when it did, it was honest — and lasting. His work began gracing homes, collections and exhibitions. Some pieces now command six-figure prices.

Among his most compelling works is Sakbibi ng Galak at Tagumpay — a reversible painting showing a mother cradling a child; flip it, and the child, now grown, returns the care. It captures life’s cyclical nature: quiet, intimate, and profound. Today, it hangs not in a museum but in a foundation office — proof that art doesn’t need marble walls to matter. Those who see it, remember it.

Still, Bryan lives modestly. He paints in the same house, in the same room, often starting at 8 a.m. and letting the day decide when to stop. He is unmarried, has no children. “Minsan, oo, nanghihinayang. Pero hindi ko na lang iniisip,” he says gently. There are no regrets — only brushstrokes.

Now, the world is paying attention.

From 11 to 13 July 2025, Bryan Teves will present a special exhibit titled The Beauty of Becoming at the Modern and Contemporary Art Festival (MoCAF), hosted at Marquis Events Place, BGC, Taguig. It is a moment long overdue for an artist who never shouted to be seen, but painted until he was.

When asked what he would tell artists still in the waiting, Bryan answers with the same grace that defines his work: “Tuloy lang.”

Keep going — even when no one claps, no one buys, and no one sees. Because the point was never the applause. It was always the becoming.

In a world chasing viral fame, Bryan Teves is proof that quiet greatness is still possible. That art can bloom not in noise, but in patience. Not in the rush, but in the stillness of choosing to stay.