Gilbert Semillano (b. 1969) is a Fine Arts – Advertising graduate of Philippine Women’s University. He has since established a career as a Creative Director for trans-multinational advertising giant Lowe in Kuwait. By combining and blending imagery with sort of fast-paced populism of advertising, Semillano has forged an oeuvre of the weirdly fantastic– an alluring cocktail that draws inspiration from otherworldly imagery of the Late Gothic style and concerns of the 15th century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, combined with the aesthetics of director Tim Burton. 

Some of his notable awards for visual arts include the Grand Prize for the ASEAN Art Competition in Kuwait in 2007; Grand Prize for Toyota Art Edge, 2008; and 1st Prize for Eastern Telecoms Art Competition in the same year.

Semillano, being an “Ad” man, helped him turn complicated imagery into something more comprehensible. He has managed to create visuals that tells of stories yet to be told, books that have yet to be written, or perhaps a movie that has yet to be made. Now an artist of growing stature, Semillano brings his unique brand of art to his hometown of Manila.