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February 1, 2026 | 8:00am
Indeed, life is beautiful, but as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this sentiment rings true when the beholder is my sister, Lizette Barretto - Gueco
La Vie Est Belle isn’t just the title of Lizette’s upcoming exhibit—it’s basically how she moves through life. As her constant travel companion, this is something I can really attest to. Especially during a recent sister-bonding trip to the UK, which inspired most of the pieces that she will be showing at the exhibit.
It was Lizette’s first time in the UK, and honestly, the timing couldn’t have been better. Autumn had arrived in full force—rich colors everywhere, moody skies, crisp air—the kind of season that feels like it was made for artists.
Our journey started during a visit to my friends Gail and Gregor in Christchurch, in the county of Dorset, which is south of London. While driving through the New Forest (a route I’ve taken many times before), I recall how, to me, it just felt familiar. Beautiful, sure, but familiar. But to Lizette, it was a visual feast. Suddenly I was seeing it differently too. The fall colors hit harder. The openness felt grander. It was like watching someone adjust the saturation on a scene I thought I already knew.
One morning, we accompanied Gail for a dog walk in a nearby walking trail. It wasn’t meant as a place for sightseeing (open land with a trail, trees, a small bridge over a pond—nice, but nothing I’d rush to photograph). Lizette, on the other hand, was quietly taking it all in. She would later paint a scene from that walk that made that moment a memory worth holding on to.
Another one of these moments came from a stroll through St James’ Park in London. I was in a bad mood at the time (we won’t talk about why…) thus not the best company for her. Nevertheless, she remained unfazed, stopping every few steps, completely taken by things I would have easily overlooked. Case in point: the ducks. Lots of ducks. Ducks she seemed determined to photograph from every possible angle. I remember getting mildly impatient (compounded by my already bad mood), watching her trail after them while I sat on a bench wondering how many duck photos she could possibly need.
Fast forward to when I saw the finished painting inspired by that moment. Suddenly, I felt guilty about being impatient with her process, and I got it. The colors, the movement, the calm she captured. And all I could think was, wow. That was what she saw while I was busy checking the time.
And that wasn’t the only thing that captured her attention in London. While she loved the open nature, she was just as taken with the city itself—its old streets and history—and especially its museums. The V&A Museum, The National Gallery, and her favorite – the National Portrait Gallery, home to one of the world’s most extensive collections of portraits and a place that really spoke to her growing interest in portraiture.
That’s what it’s like being with my sister. Lizette finds beauty in moments most people pass by without a second thought. She slows down. She notices. She lingers. And then she turns those quiet observations into something tangible.
What made this body of work especially meaningful for me was being able to witness her creative process so closely. From the spark of inspiration to the discipline of bringing it to life, I saw it all. I heard her talk through ideas, second-guess herself, then trust her instincts. Even though I know her so well—know her heart, her sensitivity, her way of seeing—I’m still constantly amazed by what she creates.
This trip was also special because it gave us time together as sisters. Traveling side by side, sharing long walks, conversations, and moments of silence, we bonded in a way that only happens when you step outside your everyday routines. Being part of this chapter of her artistic journey is something I’ll always treasure.
Lizette feels incredibly privileged to be included among such talented company in La Vie Est Belle, from 7-22 Feb at Artist Space Gallery, Ayala Museum. She is particularly grateful for the support and guidance of her mentors, Mia and Elaine Herbosa, whose encouragement has shaped much of her artistic growth, and to be exhibiting alongside renowned realist artists Alfred Galura and Rommel Tingzon, whose work she deeply admires and respects.
