After five attempts spanning several years, Jess Ramos Tejada finally earned his place at Bahrain’s most prestigious visual arts platform — and in doing so, made history.
A visual arts educator at an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme school in Bahrain for the past 15 years, Tejada was among the 65 artists chosen from nearly 300 submissions to exhibit at the 52nd Annual Bahrain Fine Arts Exhibition, held at the Bahrain National Museum. He is believed to be the first Filipino OFW ever selected in the exhibition’s more than five-decade history.
His accepted work, a three-dimensional wall piece titled “Somehow, Somewhere, I Will Conquer,” was constructed from discarded fabric collected from tailoring shops across Bahrain, used plastic bags from his own daily consumption, and acrylic paint. The choice of materials was deliberate. “My work’s title is ‘Somehow, Somewhere, I Will Conquer.’ I took the inspiration from the context of one’s journey towards realization of life, so I took my own story connecting to the rest of the OFWs — specifically those parents who left their native land for a greener pasture — and to integrate the call of the time of consumerism, that’s why I used plastic bags from our daily lives and discarded fabrics which can be seen from many tailoring shops all over Bahrain,” he shared with TGFM.
The piece represents a sharp departure from his previous artistic practice. Tejada describes his evolving approach as a modern, sustainable method of art-making — one that only took shape in recent years and ultimately gave him the creative confidence to submit again.
The 52nd edition was inaugurated on February 15, 2026, by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representing His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. HE Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, also attended the private VIP opening, during which Tejada had the opportunity to speak directly with senior officials who stopped at his work.
“The moment they stopped and asked for a couple of questions, I didn’t waste any time to grasp the moment and share to them my back story and the contextual and conceptual process of my work,” he said. “For me, having them stood by in front of me was a defining moment for me to realize that this journey is worth sharing for artistic and personal reasons.”
Among those present at the private opening was the newly appointed Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain, whose attendance came as a surprise to Tejada. He later learned that the ambassador had been personally invited by the exhibition’s curators upon learning that a Filipino artist had been selected. “Little did I know that I was the only Filipino during the private VIP’s opening until I saw the curator having the Philippine Ambassador towards my place and introduced him to me,” Tejada recounted.
Beyond the personal milestone, Tejada views his participation as carrying meaning for the broader Filipino community in Bahrain. Guests and dignitaries who visited his piece and inquired about the work’s background and process, he said, gave him a sense that the achievement extended well beyond himself.
For other OFWs who feel drawn to the arts but remain hesitant, his message is unambiguous: “Don’t dare to try, don’t be frightened to look for a change, take a risk of getting out of the box, and never underestimate your capability to undergo the process of experimenting — because if you have that burning fire of passion you will never question your skills and worth.”
Tejada is also an advocate for children’s rights and sustainable living, themes that run through both his teaching practice and his art-making philosophy.
