Romano O. Roman: A Visionary OFW Artist Uplifting Filipino Creativity in Kuwait and Beyond (2025)

Few names shine as brightly in Filipino creativity and cultural preservation as Romano O. Roman. An Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) based in Kuwait, Romano is not only the founder of the MAKULAY Filipino Artist Guild but also a multi-talented artist, visionary leader, and passionate cultural advocate. His journey embodies the spirit of innovation, service, and pride that defines the Filipino artist, no matter where they may be.

A Master of Multidisciplinary Art

Romano Roman is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans painting, sculpture, drawing, food carving, and installation art. Fueled by His innate ability to generate creative ideas on the spot, his artistic vision allows him to turn ordinary materials into powerful visual narratives. Each medium he uses is carefully selected to reflect themes of cultural identity, community, human emotion, and the nuances of everyday life.

His body of work defies confinement to a single style or technique. Instead, Romano thrives on experimentation, giving life to pieces that range from delicate portraits to large-scale mixed-media installations. He often works with unconventional materials, demonstrating that art is what you use and how you use it to tell a story. Whether transforming recycled materials into expressive sculptures or crafting meaningful visual statements through food art, Romano’s work consistently echoes his deep connection to Filipino heritage.

Founder of MAKULAY: A Movement of Color and Culture

Romano’s most significant artistic legacy may be the establishment of MAKULAY, a global platform for Filipino artists in Kuwait and abroad. More than an art collective, MAKULAY is a cultural movement that empowers Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to express themselves, preserve Filipino traditions, and share their creativity with the world. Romano founded this organization because art can connect, mend, and inspire.

 

With his involvement, MAKULAY became a support base for artists from all backgrounds and levels of artistry. With exhibitions, workshops, and online showcases, MAKULAY continues to create an environment of collaboration and welcome that inspires OFWs to embrace their heritage and make art.

 

Empowering OFWs Through Art and Advocacy

In addition to creating a large body of work, Romano is committed to community advocacy and supporting other OFWs in Kuwait. His work in this area extends way beyond the studio. He has recently engaged in campaigns for mental health awareness, cancer awareness, and environmental issues—campaigns that are in line with his moral stance and artistic intentions. He has used his platform in the past to engage others and promote conversations with messages that can have wide-ranging effects.

Romano also sees value in fostering acknowledgement of other Filipino artists’ work outside of the Philippines. MAKULAY’s official comics, Facebook page, and exhibitions that also support the community and artists regularly depict the stories and art of artists, helping visibility and momentum, and providing a space or example for others to keep expanding their artistic engagement. This thoughtfulness and support to showcase the success of others adds another layer of contribution to MAKULAY, an outlet of cultural pride and creative support.

Romano’s Art: A Reflection of Filipino Identity and Innovation

Romano’s creations are very personal to him as an artist, but also universally accessible. His work often embodies his experience as an OFW and their longing for home, displaying shared Filipino notions like resilience, family, faith, and community. Everything he creates represents a lived experience, inviting viewers to reflect on themselves and their place in the world.

 

Romano’s intense commitment to materializing forms allows him to reinvent and reinterpret traditional Filipino contextualization through a contemporary lens that makes sense to the present, both locally and globally. His use of color touches upon his art’s dynamism, such as in works where he utilizes bold or strong colors to express sentiment or stripped-down minimalist design to convey simplicity.

 

His ability to blend aesthetics with advocacy makes his pieces beautiful and meaningful. He believes that every Filipino artist abroad is a culture bearer, and through MAKULAY, he continues to prove that art knows no borders.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Filipino Creatives

Romano’s vision has longevity. One of his primary motives is to support young or emerging Filipino artists, giving them context to discover their voice and grow in their confidence in who they are as uniquely gifted creative people. He sees a global fiesta for Filipino creatives, using their collective voice to tell meaningful stories and uplift the consciousness of their communities.

 

By offering opportunities for exposure, collaboration, and education, Romano helps ensure that the next generation of OFW artists feels seen, heard, and valued. His leadership inspires others to pursue art as a profession and a lifelong commitment to identity, expression, and service.

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