Trenton Quiocho in the Artist Studio

Artist's Statement

My work reframes the use of cultural Filipino objects, iconography, and patterns by reimagining and recontextualizing them in glass and exploring the fragility of both material, and cultural knowledge slowly lost over time through diaspora. As a third-generation Filipino-American, I examine the gaps in my identity caused by this loss of cultural connection. The grief that arises from this cultural disconnect fuels my desire to understand this heritage. By attempting to fill these gaps, I aim to write a new personal narrative of what it means to be a diasporic Filipino. Jose Rizal, Filipino writer and polymath, is attributed to a quote that roughly translates to, “Know history, know self. No history, no self.” I conceptualize this quote by creating visual representations of Filipino histories and narratives.
 

About the Artist

Trenton Quiocho is a Filipino-American glassblower and Tacoma native who has worked with glass for 20 years. He has held positions as a glassblower, hot shop technician, and teaching artist with organizations including Chihuly, Inc., Glassybaby, Hilltop Artists, and the Museum of Glass. He was first introduced to glassblowing as a high school student through Hilltop Artists, where he was inspired by Venetian technique and forms. As a glassblower of color in a predominantly white field, his interest evolved from learning Venetian techniques to applying those techniques with a Filipino-American lens. His work is currently informed by his Filipino heritage, specifically the historical use of cultural objects, exploring the meanings behind Filipino iconography and patterns, and how those stories can fill cultural gaps as a diasporic Filipino.

Trenton curated and exhibited at Tacoma Art Museum's GATHER: 27 Years of Hilltop Artists exhibition in 2022, and has also exhibited at ArtX Contemporary (Seattle), Auburn City Hall, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Columbia City Gallery (Seattle), Corning Museum of Glass (Corning, New York), Fulcrum Gallery (Tacoma), Parasol Projects (New York), and Vashon Center for the Arts. He has held residencies at the Museum of Glass (Tacoma), Corning Museum of Glass (New York), and Barrio Glassworks (Carlsbad, California). His artistic practice has been supported by Allied Arts Foundation, Artist Trust, Museum of Glass, and Pratt Fine Art Center.

Trenton has taught at Hilltop Artists, Pilchuck Glass School, Pratt Fine Arts Center, and UrbanGlass. He was also a contestant on the Netflix glass blowing competition show, Blown Away. In addition to being a glass artist, he is a glassblower with Chihuly, Inc. and at the Museum of Glass.

Learn more on Instagram @basoglass, Facebook, and at basoglass.com