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Sean Go
Filipino Pop Artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Sean Go is a Filipino pop artist. His work incorporates appropriation and comments on societal themes such as capitalism, perceptions of beauty, and colonialism in the Philippines, often through the use of popular fictional characters.[1]
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Early life and education
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Go holds degrees from UC Berkeley, Emory, Columbia University, and the Fashion Institute of Technology.[2][3][4] He has earned four master's degrees and three bachelor's degrees.[5] He completed his bachelor's degrees in 2015, and his law and MBA degrees in 2019.[6][7] His bachelor's degrees are in Business administration, economics, and geography.[8][9] He obtained a master's degree in real estate development from Columbia University in 2021 and a Master of Arts in Art Market Studies from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2022.[10][11][12][13] He is currently a Master of Arts in Fashion student at Parsons Paris.[14]
He studied film at USC[15], and he is a graduate of the International School of Manila.[16]
He started a hedge fund, HGR Digital Asset Group, in 2018.[8] Prior to becoming an artist, he worked at Ernst and Young, Techstars, and HSBC.[17]
Go has stated that, coming from a conservative family, he did not initially receive support from his elders to pursue art as a career. However, the death of a close friend from cancer shifted his perspective.[18][19] Go has spoken about the importance of Asian representation in the arts, as creativity is not often encouraged as a career path in traditional households.[20] Go also hopes to destigmatize anime and cartoon fandom culture.[21]
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Career
Go's work was included in the inaugural MOCAF (Modern and Contemporary Arts Festival) in Manila in 2022, by art agent Derek Flores. His art was also featured in Art Moments Jakarta and Indoseni's "Wave to the Moon" exhibition in 2022.[1][22]
In April 2023, Go was included as a featured artist at "Agos," an exhibit on environmental conservation in the Philippines. The works used recycled materials and paints.[23][24] The show was held in Power Plant Mall in Rockwell.[25]
In June 2024, Go held a solo show titled "Victory Road" in Secret Fresh Gallery, which had a Pokemon-based theme.[26] “Victory Road” explored themes of triumph, perseverance, and resilience.[27] The exhibit focused on individual journeys.[28][29] Go was included in the exhibit titled "Pearls of Color" in London at the D Contemporary Gallery in September 2024, an event partnering with the Philippine Embassy in the UK.[30]
In 2025, Go hosted shows across several nations, such as in Japan,[31] France,[32][33] and his home country of the Philippines.[34]
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Work
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Go uses references to toy brands such as Barbie, Playmobil, Thomas the Tank Engine, Lego, and Little Tikes.[35][36] Go's works often remix pop culture elements, such as brand logos, with characters such as Optimus Prime from Transformers.[35] Go also combines characters from different universes; for example, Iron Man and Humpty Dumpty, to create Humpty the Iron Egg.[37] Go also combines Japanese anime characters with Filipino food, including characters from Hello Kitty, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and Naruto.[38] Food, particularly cuisine from the Philippines, is also a theme of interest for Go.[39][40][41]
From 2020 to 2022, Go was based in New York City while pursuing his master's degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology and Columbia University and is now based in Paris, where he is studying at Parsons Paris.[20][42] Drawing from his background in finance, Go often incorporates capitalist critiques in his art.[43] Go has used reference materials from Marvel, Pokémon, and Star Wars, employing a satirical style.[44] Go has cited childhood parables, popular television and movies, and Bible stories as inspiration.[45]
Go's works deal with the themes of the ephemerality of beauty and the interplay between perception and reality.[46][47] Go's work also explores the fetishization of women’s bodies and the dangers of commercial systems that market sexuality and sensuality.[48]
Go uses spray paint, colors, and crayons to communicate a child-like tone in his paintings.[49] In 2024, Go launched art toys with platform Toki.[50]
Recognition
Go's work has been featured in Vogue,[51] GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, L'Officiel, Wonderland, and Esquire.[52][53][41][48]
Go's collaboration with PickUP Coffee was released in December 2023, featuring the PickUP Dragon.[54] Go has also collaborated with Manila Hotel and JAG Jeans.[15]
Personal life
Go has a vestibular balance disorder, which caused balance issues growing up; some commentators suggest that this condition has impacted his art.[55] Go is a fan of martial arts and combat sports. He has trained with UFC and Bellator champion Lyman Good and four-time champion and Olympic boxer Brian Viloria.[18] Go sponsors MMA and boxing fighters, including former WBC Latino Champion Ron "Diablo" Cruz and WBA Intercontinental champion Kareem Hackett.[18][56]
Go founded the UC Berkeley Club of the Philippines and serves on the executive committee.[9]
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Gallery
Go's works at MOCAF in 2022
Go's Playmouse variations at Cat-Eye Creative Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia
Go's Lucky Mandalorian at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Manila, Philippines
Go's Pokemon at YOD Gallery Tokyo in 2024
References
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