Karen Castrillo-Villasenor

Karen May Castrillo-Villaseñor, born in 1987, is the eldest child of Remedios Castrillo and artist Ronald Castrillo. Born into a family of artists, the Castrillos are arguably the pioneers of brass sculpture in the Philippines. Karen May Castrillo-Villaseñor seeks to live up to the family name and make them proud. She is the first of the third generation of Castrillo artists and is best known for innovating her father's works by blending femininity and vulnerability into every piece. She primarily works with materials such as brass, copper, and stainless steel. Karen May believes in the visual language of art through a multi-dimensional experience, emphasizing the dialogue between strength and flexibility. She believes that one must embrace both to become whole, rejecting the notion that choosing one rejects the other. Instead, she challenges viewers to actively participate and accept both aspects.

As a firm believer in crystal therapy and its ability to realign energy flow within the human body, she also incorporates gemstones and crystals into her work to harness their innate healing properties. As a result, her viewers are provided with a unique metaphysical perspective.

Karen May Castrillo-Villaseñor's career in sculpture began at a very young age, with her childhood filled with the deafening sounds of tools striking the surface of metal—a vivid memory that remains integral to her story today. Although she had the opportunity to pursue a conventional path to success by obtaining a traditional bachelor's degree, Karen CV chose to forge her own path instead. Driven by her natural curiosity for art, she started as an apprentice to her father and eventually became his artist manager and co-artist. On March 1, 2021, Karen CV joined her father for their first collaborative exhibit at Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, titled "Shaping Wonders & Dreams." Since then, she has made it her life's mission to create a name for herself by taking the distinctive name "Castrillo" that has become renowned in the Philippine art industry and infusing it with her own creative twist. She has cultivated a mindset that constantly seeks to improve, innovate, and create.

Now married, her husband remains one of her biggest inspirations, as his input, support, and artistic observations have helped materialize her vision. He serves as both her best spectator and sparring partner, sharing a keen eye for art and an understanding of its abstract value—a trait of great rarity in today's world.