Jana Benitez is constantly inventing new ways for the medium of painting to express human vitality and exuberance. For her, the act of applying paint on canvas is a deep and mindful practice that requires her to be inquisitive on multiple levels: physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. Benitez’s practice is rooted in somatic awareness, internal curiosity, deep listening and surrendering to one’s inner knowingness. She reinvigorates gestural painting, using it to explore concepts within Buddhism, Daoism, and Tantra and bringing liveliness, personal connection, and contemporary relevance to these ancient traditions.

Benitez was born and raised in New York City within the context of a Filipino family and continues to live and work in her native city, as well as in mid-coast Maine and Manila. She holds an MFA from Boston University and a BFA from Brown University (magna cum laude). Her vibrant, expressive paintings are highly sought after by collectors and institutions in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States. Benitez’s works are included in major private and public collections, such as Crystal Bridges Museum in Arkansas, USA; the Pataka Museum in New Zealand; and Ayala Museum, Museo Pambata, St. Luke’s Hospital, and the Philippine Women’s University in the Philippines.