Statement
I grew up in Montana as a mixed-race Filipino kid. The first thing I remember my mother telling me was, “you should be proud to be Filipino”—a phrase I internalized and formed my identity around.
At 15, I went to the Philippines and was told, “...but you’re American.” This wasn’t incorrect, but shattered my sense of self. Until that point, I had assigned the word American to my white friends and classmates.
It would take me 13 more years to learn to put the two words together—Filipino and American— and find that the term Filipino American comfortably described my experience of the world.
In my art practice, I share funny moments, tender moments, and moments of conflict from investigating my own cultural heritage and identity.
Bio
April Werle is a narrative painter, whose works investigate how culture is internalized and negotiated as a mixed-race person.
Influenced by her Filipino heritage and multicultural upbringing, Werle's works explore themes of mixed-race identity, family, and belonging. She reimagines memories and shared family stories, skillfully capturing the nuances of body language, particularly through the expressive use of hands.
Her paintings have been exhibited at notable venues, including the Holter Museum of Art, Missoula Art Museum, and The Other Art Fair Los Angeles. Her work has been featured in publications like New Visionary Magazine and Kapwa Magazine.
April Werle is an advocate for multiculturalism and intercultural dialogue. She has been invited to speak on themes of cultural identity and heritage, including a keynote speech at Montana State University with the Asian Student Interracial Association.
She has received recognition for her contributions, including an ARPA Grant and a Strategic Investment Grant from the Montana Arts Council.
Currently based in Missoula, Montana, she continues to explore cultural identity and heritage through her art.
