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Abang-guard (Maureen Catbagan + Jevijoe Vitug

ABANG-GUARD (MAUREEN CATBAGAN + JEVIJOE VITUG

Makibaka Queens Museum 16 March 2025–18 January 2026 New York
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Press Release

Artist duo Abang-guard (Maureen Catbagan + Jevijoe Vitug) contends with visibility through the lens of immigration and labor in their multidisciplinary practice. For their first museum solo exhibition, Abang-guard reconfigures the iconic architecture of the 1964–1965 New York World’s Fair’s Philippines and New York State Pavilions as a scaffold to structure their investigation into the layered significance of the year 1965 in Filipino American labor history. Abang-guard takes stock of how these narratives have been lived, remembered, erased, and fought for. Makibaka, roughly translated from Tagalog as “coming together for change,” is a rallying cry used by Filipino movements and communities in fighting against exploitative systems. The spirit of makibaka is woven into Abang-guard’s paintings, sculptures, performances, and videos that pay homage to significant Filipino American sites.

Abang-guard: Makibaka is organized by Sarah Cho, Assistant Curator.

About the Artist

Abang-guard is a collaborative project between artists Maureen Catbagan (b. Quezon City, Philippines, 1975) and Jevijoe Vitug (b. Pampanga, Philippines, 1977). Catbagan received their BFA from SUNY, Binghamton University and MFA from CUNY, The City College. Vitug received his BFA from St. Scholastica’s College, Philippines and MFA from San Francisco Art Institute. Catbagan and Vitug’s collaboration began in 2017 through their occupation as museum guards. Abang-guard has performed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY (2022); Governors Island, NY (2022); ARoS Public Atelier, Denmark (2022); Abrons Art Center, New York, NY (2021); and Socrates Sculpture Park and Flux Factory, Queens, NY (2019), among others. Their work has been included in group exhibitions at 601 Artspace, New York, NY (2023); PS122 Gallery, New York, NY (2023); and HUB-Robeson Galleries in Pennsylvania State University (2023); among others.

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About the Gallery

Queens Museum is an important New York cultural centre, hosting an important contemporary art programme. Situated within Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, New York, it is dedicated to championing its surrounding community, whilst engaging with contemporary art globally too.

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Address
New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens, NY
New York
United States
Opening Hours
Monday - Tuesday
Closed

Wednesday - Friday:
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Saturday - Sunday
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
(1)
New York New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens Museum contemporary art institution in New York United States
Queens Museum
New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY, New York, United States
+1 718 592 9700
http://www.queensmuseum.org

Opening hours
Monday - Tuesday
Closed

Wednesday - Friday:
12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Saturday - Sunday
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
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