Chronicle Exhibitions, museum collections and press for Filipino sculptor Eugie Varona Dela Cruz

Eugie Varona Dela Cruz has established himself as a significant presence in contemporary Philippine sculpture. His career reflects a sustained commitment to both craftsmanship and innovation, resulting in a body of work that has garnered increasing recognition within the Philippine art scene.

Working primarily in wood, Dela Cruz explores the material as a dynamic and expressive medium. From kinetic furniture and interactive objects to larger sculptural forms, his works challenge conventional notions of sculpture by emphasizing movement, engagement, and transformation.

His evolving practice has been presented in some of the country’s leading platforms for contemporary sculpture, including multiple editions of the Annual Sculpture Review, a 22-year institution in Philippine sculptural exposition, and ManilART, the National Art Fair. Through these exhibitions, Dela Cruz continues to contribute to the expanding discourse on contemporary three-dimensional art in the Philippines.

The grain and patina of old wood are luminous as gold through the inlay art pieces of Eugie Varona Dela Cruz, a self-taught sculptor and wood worker.

As one of the country’s prominent contemporary functional artists, Eugie navigates with ease the fusion of functionality and aesthetics. Not quite many Filipino artists have taken that path as seriously as he has done. In Dela Cruz’ adept hands, Philippine hardwood serves as a cheese and meat platter, a sashimi and sushi board, or simply a kneading dough board. On the obverse side, however, are carefully selected and meticulously carved woodcuts as inlays.

Eugie’s clever refashioning of hardwood inlays casts charm on his pieces.

His innate patience in working his way on and through wood is evident in his keen attention to details. And those lovely details make his pieces a collector’s gem.