Why Nadine Lustre Is the Perfect Muse of Kim Cruz's "Frames of a Memory" Exhibit
The artist, actress, and Lisbon-based photographer Tiago Pestana collaborated on a series exploring memory and emotion.
Published on Nov 24, 2025
At the recent vernissage hosted by Art House at Café K in Makati, Preview Creative 25 2025 honoree Kim Cruz unveiled Frames of a Memory, a joint exhibition with Lisbon-based photographer Tiago Pestana. The showcase brought together five one-of-one works that merge Tiago’s quietly deliberate photography with Kim’s distinctly feminine approach to painting.
Kim, who has spent the past few years building a practice centered on the female form while also teaching art therapy and running the non-profit KALMA Art Foundation, approached this project with a renewed sense of freedom. Tiago, whose visual language was shaped by his background in graffiti and fashion, brought a sensitivity to presence and absence that matched her introspective approach.
Their subject for this series is actress Nadine Lustre, one of Kim’s closest friends for almost a decade. “I thought, ‘Why don’t I paint more intimate portraits of women in my life?’” Kim shares with Preview. “Nadine is one of my best friends. We grew up a little bit together in our teenage years. I asked her if she was up for this, and she was really game.”
Kim Cruz on “Frames of a Memory”
Kim describes the creation process as loose, instinct-driven, and unburdened by strict rules. “We just kind of flowed,” she says. With Tiago capturing the initial photographs and Kim transforming them through layers of paint, the works evolved into a tender exploration of recollection.
Though Kim has recently been recognized for her black-and-white pieces, Frames of a Memory marks a subtle departure. Two works—Oblitio and Conditio—bring color back into her palette, a return to the blues and pinks she used when she was first starting out. “The blue one is my favorite piece,” she says. “It’s coming back to when I started, and I find joy in that.”
The remaining pieces—Codificatio, Redemptio, and Recordatio—lean into the grayscale language she’s honed in her past exhibitions, pushing even further into the tension between form and feeling.
Why Nadine Lustre Was the Natural Muse
While the friendship between Kim and Nadine anchors the collaboration, it was Nadine's energy that made her the ideal muse. “She’s very open-minded,” Kim explains. “She goes with the flow. Creative-wise, friendship aside, she’s really easy to work with because she likes to create as well—she’s an artist herself.”
For Kim, this ease is essential. Nadine wasn’t a passive subject, as she offered ideas and input during the process. “She’s not just modeling for us,” Kim says. “She’ll give her own thoughts on what she thinks works well.”
Working alongside Tiago—whose eye shaped the photographs that formed the foundation of each piece—the trio found a shared rhythm. “I think three creatives doing this collaboration… It’s amazing,” Kim reflects. “You mix different cultures altogether in a certain way as well.”
Kat is Preview's Lifestyle Editor, explorer, and occasional rhymer. When not globe-trotting, she's over her computer, writing her next big novel.
Read more stories about
kim cruz ,filipina artist ,filipino artists ,nadine lustre ,celebrity news ,lifestyle ,exhibit