Dranreb Belleza, the Filipino artist known for his abstract paintings, recently shared the story of his first sale, which happened to be to his godfather, the late Fernando Poe Jr. (FPJ). In 1994, Belleza held his debut art exhibit at the Music Museum, and it was there that FPJ took notice of one of the pieces displayed, a blue abstraction. Impressed by the artwork, FPJ offered to buy it, but Belleza was hesitant to accept payment from his godfather, who had already supported his education in the arts.
However, FPJ insisted and asked Belleza to name his price. Thinking FPJ was joking, Belleza asked for P7,000, a significant amount at the time. To Belleza’s surprise, FPJ agreed and even cleared a space in his home to display the painting. The gesture touched Belleza, who considered FPJ a mentor figure in his life. Belleza’s passion for art was noticed at a young age by another influential figure in his life, FPJ’s wife, Susan Roces.
When he was just four years old, Belleza would spend his breaks on the set of a film playing with coloring books and crayons given to him by Roces. Belleza has had a successful career in the art world, participating in over 30 art shows, including the prestigious Venice Biennale in Italy in 1999. He has also displayed his work in various galleries and art centers and worked as an art lecturer. Despite his connections, Belleza emphasizes the importance of hard work and talent in the art world. He believes he must prove himself with each new exhibition and continues to work diligently to establish his reputation as an artist based on his own merits.
