Buhay Ko, by Beyah Delfin

Art Exhibit Reception

Opening reception for Buhay Ko, multimedia art by Beyah Delfin. Exhibit runs from December 7, 2026–February 12, 2027

Artist's Statement

Lolo’s Legacy: A Journey Through Immigration, Memory, and Family

This exhibition tells the story of my grandfather, Lolo, and his immigration from the Philippines to the United States. Through his life, from hopeful beginnings to the quiet struggles of aging, I explore how the immigrant experience shapes identity across generations.

Using symbolic colors and motifs (snickers bar, rice, and the American flag), family photos, and scenes from Lolo’s life, I reflect on both the dream and disillusionment of America. Works like The Birth of an American Dream and Exporting My Best draw from his youth as a rice farmer and his early hopes for a better life. In contrast, pieces like Lolo’s Bed, and Buhay Pa capture the sorrow and exhaustion of aging, caregiving, and loss.

Most of the paintings, particularly the portraits, meet the viewer’s gaze directly. This confrontational eye contact demands reflection, asking us to reckon with the truth that we are only here because someone before us believed in the promise of America.  

This exhibition is both a tribute and a challenge, a call to look closely at the lives that came before us, to recognize their strength, and to reconsider the ideals we often take for granted. Through Lolo’s eyes, I invite you to reflect on your own story and what it means to belong.

Artist's Bio

Beyah Delfin is a multidisciplinary artist from Salt Lake City, Utah, who centers her work around stories told from her grandfather, Lolo, and focuses on themes of national and personal identity. Working primarily with 2D materials like charcoal and acrylic paint, she uses intentional materials and colors as a way to invite viewers to reflect on their lives and the stories they carry from their family.

Inspired by her Filipino heritage, Beyah creates pieces that celebrate both the beauty of the aging body through Lolo’s life and the familial history that has shaped her own. Her work emphasizes her detail in movement and texture to illustrate the emotions of her grandfather’s story. 

Currently a student at the University of Utah, Beyah continues to carry on Lolo’s story through her studies in political science and international studies, all while continuing her artistic pursuits. She believes that art is one of the most powerful ways to advocate for what is important and learn about our history. Through this exhibition, she hopes viewers will find the time to consider the importance of immigrants in our country and the power of family. This is Beyah’s second gallery exhibition and the year of her grandfather’s 97th birthday!

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