Filipino-Australian artists Isabel and Alfred Aquilizan have received the Legacy Award at the 2025 Asia Pacific Arts Awards, in recognition of their long-standing contribution to collaborative art and community engagement.
The award was announced by Creative Australia, which praised the couple for their “outstanding commitment to collaborative art practices that build and sustain communities across borders.”
Isabel and Alfred, who both grew up in creative families in the Philippines, said their cultural identity plays a central role in their art. “We can’t be someone else, we just express ourselves truthfully and our sensibilities as Filipinos,” they said.
The couple migrated to Australia in 2006 with their five children. Since then, they have focused on projects that go beyond traditional art-making, instead using art to create shared spaces, foster belonging, and connect people.
“We think that it is also important to impart and share our cultural heritage as well as our plights and conditions being migrants,” they said. “And art is a great way of defining, moulding and expressing our cultural identity.”
Their work often involves collaboration with others, something they consider fundamental to their philosophy. “Art is not an individual pursuit but a collective one, a shared experience and a potent tool for change,” they said.
Alice Nash, Executive Director of Arts Investment at Creative Australia, said this year’s winners reflect the diversity of the region. “The recipients of these awards exemplify the depth and diversity of the arts in our region,” she said. “They have created work that is deeply engaged and impactful, resonating within communities and across international borders.”
The Aquilizans said they felt honoured by the recognition. “Being nominated alone is already recognition enough,” they said. “But we are so grateful that the communities we’ve built and worked with have been acknowledged. It feels joyful and humbling.”
Looking ahead, the pair plans to continue supporting artisan communities in the Philippines by building workshops, equipping local makers, and helping pass down traditional skills to future generations.
The 2025 Asia Pacific Arts Awards are being celebrated with small gatherings in three states, leading up to a larger sector-wide event later this year.
For more information about the awards and other recipients, visit the 2025 Asia Pacific Arts Awards website.
