Ronald Ventura is a contemporary Filipino artist known for his intermingling of hyper-realism, cartoons, and graffiti with both historical and Pop subject matter. His work portrays scenes of chaotic disarray, incorporating traditional Western and Asian mythologies with contemporary cultural symbols like Mickey Mouse. Working in both painting and sculpture, there is often an ominous sense of expansion in Ventura's works, with objects and patterns swirling outward. Born in 1973 in Manila, the Philippines, the artist earned a BFA in painting from the University of Santo Tomas in 1993. After graduating, he worked at the university as an instructor. Ventura had his first solo exhibitions in 2000, called All Souls Day , which was held at the Drawing Room in Makati City, Philippines, and Innerscapes , which was held at the West Gallery Megamall in Mandaluyong City. Since then, Ventura has continued to refine his signature style of multi-layered paintings, which utilize a broad range of imagery and tend to focus around the human form. In addition to paintings, Ventura also makes sculptures that explore the same themes and aesthetics as his two-dimensional works.