Chi Chai Mateo uses the word “responsibility” to describe her approach to art. It was a responsibility that became clear to her throughout the years when she saw how it could empower communities and be the voice of the youth. As a Filipino-American multidisciplinary artist and educator based in San Francisco, Chi Chai’s upbringing in the Bay Area, primarily in Daly City, deeply roots her art within her Filipino heritage, inspiring her commitment to utilizing art as a means to foster cultural identity and empowerment. Through her murals, workshops, fashion designs, and community-driven works, Chi Chai extends her own experience to one that impacts others.

*Portrait of Chi Chai Mateo*

*Courtesy of Krissy Ocampo*

Beginning her journey in art at an early age, Chi Chai’s first drawings appeared as faces traced upon window condensation—something her mother and relatives found both amusing and superstitious. “My family has always been supportive of me creating, which I think is very rare coming from an Asian household,” Chi Chai tells me. “It was just very normal for me because I was always surrounded by it, and I think it helps that my family is already unconventional,” she adds.

“What was the moment you knew it was the right path for you?” I ask her.

“I was surrounded by art during my time in college and saw how it affected the people around me,” Chi Chai says. Through events like Filipino Cultural Night, she saw firsthand how art brings her peers closer to their history, sparking a deeper appreciation for the diverse cultures of the Philippines. In that moment, she felt the power of art not just as a form of expression but as a tool for empowerment. “I thought, ‘I want to tap into that,’ as soon as I saw that there was empowerment in those kinds of art,” she recalls. Chi Chai understood, then, that art carried a responsibility, and this was one that she was ready to embrace.

Chi Chai also mentions her master’s thesis on challenging colonial mentality with art that represents culture, emphasizing the power of creating or interacting with art for us and by us as a means of healing. Her thesis, Challenging Filipino Colonial Mentality through Philippine Art, explores how engaging with culturally representative art helps dismantle colonial mentality by reclaiming narratives and fostering a sense of pride and belonging. Awarded “Most Original Thesis” at the University of San Francisco, her research highlights that this process of decolonization is not limited to Filipinos or Asian Americans but resonates with any community with a colonial history. By immersing in cultural expression, individuals not only reconnect with their heritage but also develop a deeper appreciation of self, which in turn fosters openness and respect for other cultures, breaking down divisions created by colonial histories.

After spending two years researching and witnessing the impact of art on healing, her work stands as a testament to the transformative power of cultural representation. For many, Chi Chai’s work demonstrates how artistic engagement can serve both as a personal and communal act of liberation.

For the past years of being a muralist, she is now keenly aware of the impact her work has on everyday people.

“I’m constantly thinking of who this is for, how they’re going to feel, and if little ones will feel proud of who they are when they see it,” she says. “Will it be part of other people’s healing? Will it encourage them to learn more about our history?” she adds.

Visually, she is a maximalist. Her murals are defined by contrasts between earthy undertones and colors such as bright magenta and neon highlights, creating a visual language that feels both ancestral and contemporary.

One of her popular murals is Pagsasama-sama (Tagalog for “joining together”). “That piece was a very long process,” Chi Chai recalls, but she admits the piece not only carries an important message but is also personal to her.

“I knew that if I got this opportunity, the kids and families I’ve worked with would see it every day, so I kept them in mind while designing,” Chi Chai says proudly with a smile.

*“Pagsasama-sama”* mural by Chi Chai Mateo located at Folsom St and Russ St, San Francisco (Mission Hiring Hall), CA

*Courtesy of Chi Chai*

Her mural Pagsasama-sama is a collaboration with SOMA Pilipinas, San Francisco’s Filipino Cultural Heritage District, to celebrate the legacy of community members coming together. In Pagsasama-sama, Chi Chai sought to connect the mural not only to the ancestral roots of the Philippines but also to the Filipino-American history being created today. This vision is reflected in the two diwatas (goddesses) at the center of the piece, with their flowing hair transforming into ocean waves and hands reaching out to one another, symbolizing the Pacific Ocean as both a literal and figurative link between San Francisco and the Philippines. The waves weave through the mural, interlacing generations of women and reinforcing the idea that they are making waves together.

Each portrait within her mural represents the essence of SOMA Pilipinas. From a tribute to the Flores de Mayo parade and the Pearl Festival to depictions of seniors dancing and musicians performing, Chi Chai ensures that every detail honors the people and traditions that make the district home. Among these figures is Victoria Manalo Draves, the first Filipina-American Olympic gold medalist, which represents a testament to the resilience and achievements of the community.

Beyond the figures, the Solihiya rattan pattern—commonly seen in Filipino homes—adds another layer of ancestral connection. Initially chosen for its familiarity, Chi Chai later discovered its deeper significance. The pattern represents a sunburst, its open weave allowing air to pass through, signifying breath and light. This motif ties back to the sun depicted in the mural, reinforcing the idea that “we shine together.”

Even the plants woven into the composition—malunggay, calamansi, and banana leaves—carry intentional meaning. Chi Chai selected them to reflect the way Filipino families have carried their roots across the ocean, cultivating these plants in their new home. “I know at least three or four people who grow malunggay and calamansi here…And Filipino farmers historically introduced banana leaves to Hawaii and the mainland U.S.,” she notes.

While murals are often client-driven, she describes the process of doing murals as a kind of halo-halo—a mix of opportunities that come through applications and direct inquiries. Some organizations put out calls for artists, requiring resumes, portfolios, and even detailed proposals, making the process feel like an intense job application. Because of this, she’s selective about which projects she pursues, prioritizing those that align with her values.

“But in terms of commissions, I’ve been lucky,” Chi Chai says. It’s only been the past year that private clients began reaching out to her directly, drawn to the strong foundation she has built in creating community-centered work. “There's already that expectation of, ‘Oh, I want to reach out to Chi Chai because I know she does this type of work,’” she explains. This allows her to stay true to her mission, ensuring that her art remains deeply connected to and in service of her people.

One such project was her collaboration with LEAD Filipino, an organization that sought to increase Filipino voter participation across the U.S. in 2023. “They picked me specifically because they knew that we would be able to entice different generations by enticingly presenting our history,” she explains. “I designed their campaign shirt, but there was more to the design than just plainly saying ‘Vote because it’s important for our ancestors.’ There was more engagement because of the way it was aesthetically presented,” Chi Chai says.

Beyond her mural work, Chi Chai is also an educator, conducting workshops for students ranging from kindergarteners to senior citizens. She previously taught fashion design to public high school students and worked at Galing Bata, an after-school program for elementary and middle school students.

These experiences reinforced her belief in art as a means of healing and self-expression, particularly for youth from underserved backgrounds. “A lot of the time, these classes were a sense of escape for them or a sense of the only way they could be heard through their own creativity,” she says. “And so teaching those classes kind of put my master’s thesis into practice, and I saw that art really can be used as a way of healing, especially for those who have historically been silenced.”

Today, as a freelance teaching artist, she continues to lead workshops in public libraries and across various organizations. “I've even taught a seminar at Google. This was a year ago. So there will be a variety of workshops where it's purely just for fun. And then there will be other workshops where it's going to be a learning lesson,” Chi Chai shares.

“As an Asian American, have you faced any challenges in your career as a multidisciplinary artist?” I ask her.

“I’ve faced challenges not in a sense where I am discriminated against from opportunities, but more so disgustingly tokenized,” she says. She recalls instances where she was paraded in front of board members simply for being Filipino or where institutions capitalized on diversity optics without a genuine commitment to inclusivity. “I was definitely pimped out for my identity because the arts institutions are very white. They're dominated by a lot of white personalities and also a sense of white saviorism. And so, there were times when I was being plugged into different things, but it didn't feel genuine. It felt more like I was giving them brownie points,” she shares.

When I ask her about her hopes for the future of the art industry, Chi Chai is clear. “I hope for more leadership in the AAPI spaces to represent the actual PI in AAPI,” she states, acknowledging the frequent erasure of Pacific Islanders within the grouping.

Beyond representation, she hopes artists recognize the responsibility they hold. “This doesn’t mean to say that we should stop making just-for-fun artwork or funny artwork. All of it is important,” she emphasizes. “But I think especially for artists with a huge platform, to acknowledge their responsibility and the power that they have. Because we’re definitely going towards a dark time with radicalized racism and whatnot. And so we need each other more as we step into the future.”

And for young artists hoping to use their work for activism, her advice is simple: be clear about your values from the start. “When you set that standard of this is what your artwork is about, you won’t ever feel the need to be silenced later because you’re not catching anyone by surprise,” she says. “You’re attracting the right energy to come to your artwork too.”

Website: https://www.chi-chai.co/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chichai.intheair

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