Between Manila and Montana: April Werle’s artistic exploration of mixed-race identity, belonging, and family
April Werle is known for her unique style of painting. A beautiful exploration of family, belonging, and what it means to be mixed-race in the Filipino diaspora, each piece features rich earth tones, elements of nature, and the nuanced and powerful body language of hands.
Navigating life as a mixed person in a small Filipino community in Helena, Montana, had a significant impact on Werle growing up. In the 1990s, her mother immigrated from the Philippines to the United States after having an arranged marriage. Following her parents’ divorce when she was five, Werle was raised primarily by her mother.
“The core of why I make artwork is to really explore how my family came to be in Montana and how that influences my experience of Filipino culture,” Werle said. “Where I grew up, there were about nine Filipino women, and all of the kids in my community were mixed like me. Most of our mothers were Filipino immigrants who worked two to three jobs, so all of us kids were raised together.”
Werle’s interest in the visual arts stems from her childhood, coloring between the lines of fuzzy velvet posters with washable markers. As she grew older, Werle began to explore the ways in which hand gestures convey different emotions and meanings.
“The first time I remember drawing hands came from a conversation with my mother. I have my mom’s hands, and she would always comment on how beautiful they were and then wink because they looked like hers and my grandmother’s. So I’ve always had a connection to hands and drawing them,” Werle said.
Painted in black and white strokes, hands became prominent figures in Werle’s work and a way to share the rich stories and memories of her family and community.
“The most important thing for me and my work is the storytelling and relating to people when it comes to this shared experience of being Filipino in the diaspora, especially in places like Montana where there is not a lot of representation of our culture,” Werle said.
I belong to my family (2023) April Werle
Werle’s artistic expressions have resonated with audiences throughout California, sparking discussions about mixed-race experiences and balancing one’s identity, cultural heritage, and sense of belonging.
Alexa Zapata, owner of Kurated Kultura, felt a personal connection with Werle’s art. The two Filipinas met on an episode of “Merienda with the Maker” in October 2023 to share insights on their Filipino upbringing, ancestral markings, and relationship with art.
“There are lots of browns and dark undertones and I feel that being Filipino there’s multiple shades of being brown,” Zapata said. “My grandma was born on a boat in the Philippines and I particularly was drawn to a painting of a hand on a boat, with water in the background and the moon with constellations.”
Stephanie Wilson, a long-time friend from Montana who is now based in California, has collected several pieces of Werle’s artwork, which she proudly displays in her home. She believes Werle’s collection is a powerful validation of the Filipino American experience.
“Whether it’s through Instagram or owning a painting, it feels like we are along for the ride in her journey of discovering cultural identity,” Wilson said. “She touches on different aspects of Filipino Americans or colonial Philippines. One of the pieces she has is about eating rice with your hands, and I get that. I grew up with that as well. It just makes sense to me.”
In the coming year, Werle is excited to deepen relationships with growing Filipino communities not only in Montana but also across the country.
“Building connections between Montana Filipino communities and larger Filipino American hubs in places like San Francisco and Los Angeles is really important, especially for younger generations in Montana, to keep them immersed and find belonging with other Filipinos,” she said.
Whether she’s capturing the mundane moments of everyday life or exploring the beauty of multicultural relationships, Werle is determined to continue her mission of bringing the stories of those who exist between cultures to the forefront.
