Burnt Desert

In this body of work, Monika Morito reflects on themes of home, nature, and personal transition, drawing from the vibrant influence of her Filipino heritage. Her compositions weave together abstract palms, tropical fruits, and the quiet familiarity of vessels and tablescapes, exploring the fluid boundary between interior space and the natural world. Through these layered environments, Morito considers how memory, place, and cultural identity shape the spaces we inhabit. Working with oil paint, oil sticks, and wax crayons, Morito develops each composition through a gradual process of accumulation, building dense surfaces that evoke both material depth and the passage of time. Each layer records a moment within the making of the work, creating images that invite viewers to look beyond the surface. Influenced by a recent personal milestone—her first pregnancy—the palette in this series shifts toward softer, earth-toned hues, grounding the works in a sense of warmth, reflection, and quiet anticipation.