Romeo Cortez's Artwork Chosen Among the World's Best Pastels

NEW YORK - Filipino artist Romeo Cortez has achieved another milestone in his distinguished art career after receiving international recognition at the Pastel Society of America (PSA) Annual Juried Exhibition, one of the world's most prestigious exhibitions dedicated to pastel painting.

Cortez was among only 125 artists selected from 1,043 entries submitted by painters from the United States and around the world for the exhibition, titled "Enduring Brilliance," held at the National Arts Club in New York City. Acceptance into the highly competitive exhibition is widely regarded as a significant achievement in the international pastel art community.

Adding to the honor, Cortez received the Excellence in Pastel Award, one of the exhibition's special distinctions recognizing outstanding technical skill and artistic expression.

The recognition continued beyond New York when his award-winning artwork was selected for a special exhibition at the Butler Institute of American Art, one of the oldest and most respected art museums in the United States.

The exhibition featured just 31 paintings selected from the original PSA exhibition by Butler Institute Director Emeritus Dr. Louis A. Zona. Describing the collection as "the best of the best," Zona praised the artists for mastering what is widely considered one of the most challenging mediums in the visual arts and said the exhibition "hit a home run."

For Cortez, the recognition represents one of the defining moments of his artistic journey.

Despite receiving several honors this year, he considers his success at the Pastel Society of America exhibition and the subsequent invitation to exhibit at the Butler Institute among the most meaningful milestones of his career.

Above all, Cortez said he humbly dedicates his accomplishments to the greater glory of God, expressing gratitude as he continues to pursue excellence in the arts while representing Filipino talent on the international stage.