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Sheila “Sheng” Feliciano is a Filipino artist whose creative journey spans continents and mediums. Originally from the Philippines, Sheng moved to Vienna, Austria, in 2003. Like many migrants, she arrived in a new country, uncertainly and hopeful. Art became her anchor.
Her early work centered on photography—a tool for observation, documentation, and self-reflection. Through the lens, she captured everyday moments with sensitivity and detail. However, over time, Sheng began to see her photographs as more than final products. They became starting points, references that led her to explore painting as a new form of expression. Photography trained her eye, but painting allowed her to interpret what she saw, to add emotion, texture, and imagination.
Living in Vienna reshaped her perspective as an artist. The contrast between her Filipino roots and her European surroundings pushed her to think more deeply about identity, displacement, and belonging. These themes subtly weave through her work, often conveying a quiet sense of memory and place. Sheng’s art isn’t loud but lingers—it invites viewers to pause and look again.
She is also part of the Filipino Visual Artists in Austria, which supports and showcases Filipino artists living and working there. Through this community, Sheng has found artistic inspiration and solidarity—a reminder that even far from home, shared stories and creative voices connect.
In this interview, Sheng reflects on her artistic evolution, the impact of migration, and how her life in Vienna continues to shape her work. It’s a conversation about process, perspective, and finding an art home.
austrianpress.com – Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Sheila Feliciano – I am Sheila Feliciano, fondly called Sheng. I was born in the vibrant city of Bacolod, Philippines, and am an only child. My journey began in Pasig City, where my family and I lived when I was just 4 years old. We later moved to Bulacan, where I spent most of my childhood and adolescence. After finishing elementary school, I pursued my college education at the University of the East, Manila.
In 2003, I migrated to Austria, and it was here in Vienna that I began to navigate life as an artist. I was deeply connected to my Filipino roots while embracing new opportunities in a foreign land.
austrianpress.com – How did your journey as an artist begin, and what inspired you to pursue this path?
Sheila Feliciano—My interest in art began in first grade when I drew cartoon characters with a pencil. This spark grew throughout high school, when I started experimenting with watercolors. I participated in several poster-making contests outside of school but didn’t initially pursue art as a career.
In 2003, I migrated to Austria, and after a long hiatus from the creative world, my love for art was reignited a decade later when I received my first Nikon DSLR camera. I began exploring the beauty of Vienna, capturing landscapes in different seasons, which led me to create my photographic series, The Shutterbug Series (Volumes 1 & 2).
As I explored photography, I began to see my photos not just as images but as potential sources of inspiration for painting. In 2018, I returned to painting, using acrylics as my medium. This marked the beginning of my reconnection with art through painting as a hobby. I became a Filipino Visual Artists in Austria (FVAA) member a year later through a dear friend, Jem, who encouraged me to join the group. The workshops I attended with FVAA greatly helped me refine my skills, and they opened doors for me to participate in several group exhibits.
In 2023, I expanded my creative outlets by venturing into vlogging. I launched my YouTube channel, Walk with Sheng, where I explore and share the beauty of Vienna, along with snippets of my daily life and passions. Through my channel, I also document my artistic journey, including my participation in FVAA painting exhibits, allowing me to connect with others and share the creative process that continues to evolve.
austrianpress.com – How has living in Vienna influenced your perspective as an artist?
Sheila Feliciano – Vienna, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, has always been a profound source of inspiration for me. The city’s art and culture are a rich tapestry of history, long-held traditions, and a vibrant present, all shaping my creative journey.
I am particularly drawn to Spring and Autumn, as they capture the fleeting beauty of nature, life in full bloom, and the melancholic yet hopeful transformation of leaves. I often incorporate spring trees, flowers, and autumnal colors into my artworks, using them as metaphors for renewal, growth, and reflection.
Through my art, I seek to capture these moments of beauty, transition, and emotion, intertwining nature and the city’s energy with the stories I tell through color, form, and pattern.
austrianpress.com – Do you see your art as a bridge between Filipino and Austrian culture?
Sheila Feliciano – I don’t believe that the “gaps” between cultures are any wider or more complicated than the gaps between individuals. Ultimately, we are all driven by the same human experiences: emotions, struggles, joys, and desires.
What I believe about art, regardless of its origin or era, is that it stems from a shared urge: the need to understand and express our feelings, and to make statements about life, beauty, the nature of humanity, and the eternal truths that connect us all. Whether created centuries ago or in the present, art is a conversation between the artist and the world.
When we experience art—a visual work or a moment of expression—we feel understood, connected, and reassured. In those moments, we glimpse what many seek: that fleeting sense of happiness, fulfillment, or clarity.
This is my perspective, but art bridges gaps because it speaks to the universal. It transcends the specifics of time, place, and culture to communicate far deeper: our shared humanity.
austrianpress.com – Your artworks prominently feature Filipino motifs and nature. What draws you to these themes?
Sheila Feliciano: I’m drawn to Filipino themes because they reflect our culture’s richness, depth, and resilience. For me, they are not just motifs or symbols; they are living stories, worthy of being told visually and emotionally.
One of the central elements in my work is weaving, not only as a technique or visual pattern, but as a metaphor for connection, tradition, and continuity. Weaving is one of humanity’s oldest art forms, and in the Philippines, it holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning. Through my artwork, I aim to honor and reinterpret this tradition, making it visible to a broader audience, especially to younger Filipino generations who may feel disconnected from their roots.
In each piece, I seek to bridge past and present, craft and contemporary art, heritage and personal identity. I hope my work becomes a thread that ties people back to the beauty and complexity of Filipino culture, reminding us that our stories are worth telling and preserving.
austrianpress.com – How do you incorporate Filipino traditions, folklore, or landscapes into your work?
Sheila Feliciano – I paint imagery, particularly patterns, highlighting Filipino weaving traditions’ vibrancy and richness. For me, weaving is more than just a visual element; it is a powerful reflection of our people’s perseverance, creativity, and deep-rooted spirituality. Each woven tapestry tells a story, passed down through generations, preserving the history, beliefs, and identity of the communities that create them.
Through my art, I aim to honor these traditions and bring them into contemporary conversations. I hope to awaken curiosity, pride, and cultural memory—especially among younger Filipinos who may feel distant from their heritage.
austrianpress.com – Are there particular symbols or elements in your art that have special meaning to you?
Sheila Feliciano: My art is deeply rooted in symbolism. I draw from nature and Filipino cultural traditions to tell stories of identity, resilience, and transformation.
The moon often appears in my work as a quiet but powerful reminder that even in darkness, there is always hope and the promise of new beginnings.
With their fleeting beauty, Cherry blossoms reflect life’s transient nature. They remind us to embrace each moment, knowing that all beginnings eventually come to an end.
The autumn colors help me reflect on personal loss, growth, and the continuous cycle of letting go and stepping into the unknown.
Flowers, in all their forms, symbolize love, beauty, and determination. Their presence in my art honors life’s fragility and strength at once.
Traditional Filipino weaving patterns are at the heart of my work, celebrating our heritage and paying tribute to the women who have carried this cultural legacy. Weaving, often viewed as a feminine practice, symbolizes empowerment for me: women as vessels of knowledge, tradition, and cultural continuity.
Through these natural and cultural symbols, I aim to create pieces that reflect what is seen and what is felt, remembered, and passed on.
austrianpress.com – Do you feel responsible for representing Filipino culture in your work?
Sheila Feliciano – I don’t view it as a sense of responsibility but a deep commitment to incorporating Filipino culture into my artwork. As a migrant, this is my way of regaining and reasserting my identity as a Filipino.
Art becomes the medium through which I reconnect with my heritage, a thread that ties me back to the traditions, values, and stories that have shaped me. It’s not just about preserving culture, it’s about embracing and celebrating it, ensuring that it continues to resonate and evolve, even far from home.
Each piece I create is an act of remembering, a reclamation of who I am, and a way of sharing that journey with others, whether they are fellow Filipinos or those from different walks of life.
austrianpress.com – Who or what are your biggest artistic influences from the Philippines and internationally?
Sheila Feliciano—The work of certain artists resonates deeply with my artistic aspirations, each offering something distinct yet intertwined with my journey as an artist.
Pacita Abad is one such influence. Her art is alive with color, texture, and a boldness that speaks to her Filipino identity. Her trapunto paintings capture the essence of storytelling, addressing themes like migration, identity, and tradition in deeply personal and unmistakably Filipino ways. I find great inspiration in how Abad used her art as a platform to explore these universal experiences, reminding me of the power of narrative in visual art.
Frida Kahlo has always inspired me with her work’s raw, unflinching honesty. Her self-portraits transcend mere representation; they reveal the pain, strength, and resilience she experienced as a woman rooted in her Mexican heritage. Kahlo’s emotional sensitivity and ability to translate personal suffering into powerful visual language are qualities I strive to embody in my art. She made no distinction between her physical and emotional selves—her art was a healing process and a form of deep self-expression.
Yayoi Kusama is another artist whose work has shaped my creative vision. Her use of patterns, repetition, and infinity creates an immersive experience that transforms personal chaos into something visually captivating. I admire Kusama’s ability to convey psychological depth through seemingly simple motifs. Her work challenges the viewer to become lost in the repetition, to see both the beauty and intensity of her inner world.
These three artists: Abad’s celebration of cultural identity, Kahlo’s emotional depth and symbolism, and Kusama’s immersive, psychological artistry, form a distinctive blend of influences that guide my work. I aim to create art that reflects a fusion of these elements, where personal narrative, cultural identity, emotional sensitivity, and immersive experiences come together into a strong artistic vision that speaks to the universal human experience.
austrianpress.com – What message do you hope people take away from your art?
Sheila Feliciano – When people look at my art, I want them to see more than images or patterns. I want them to understand: This is who I am. This is where I come from. My culture, my history, and my emotions are valued. Through my work, I assert my existence and voice as a Filipino artist and human being.
I exist. And so does my story. Through my art, I hope to inspire others to see and celebrate the beauty, depth, and complexity of cultures, histories, and identities that often go unnoticed or unappreciated.
austrianpress.com – Do you have any upcoming exhibitions or projects that you’re excited about?
I’m excited to be in a creative phase of exploring new materials and techniques. I’m looking into open calls and opportunities around Vienna and hope to present this work by the end of the year.
austrianpress.com – How do you see your art evolving in the future?
Sheila Feliciano – I focus on reconnecting with my roots and absorbing what it means to be a Filipino artist working and living in Europe. In the future, I hope to expand on those ideas using new materials and carve out my style.
austrianpress.com – What advice would you give aspiring Filipino artists, especially those living abroad?
Trust your voice, even if it feels foreign in a new environment. Living abroad can cause you to doubt your place, identity, and art, but that experience is precisely what makes your perspective powerful and necessary.
Sometimes, you may feel invisible or unclear about where you fit in. But don‘t let that stop you from creating. Create your own space. Use your creativity to bridge cultures—yours and theirs, past and present.
And also allow yourself to evolve. You do not have all the answers or a clear style right away. Let your work grow with you, and be gentle with yourself. Each piece you create helps you understand more about your vision, techniques, and what feels authentic. Art is a journey, not a destination. So, embrace your journey as a process.
Importantly, your story matters, your voice is valid, and your art contributes to the continuous story of who we are as Filipinos worldwide, no matter how big or small.
austrianpress.com – Thank you for your time
Sheila Feliciano – My pleasure.
Interview conducted by Hector Pascua/pictures: Sheng Feliciano
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