Art must be an expression of love, or it is nothing. — Marc Chagall

This 2023-2026, the Philippines is hosting a historic global celebration of the 125th anniversary of the nation’s independence from Spain.  

As her contribution to this historic occasion, New England-based artist-entrepreneur-philanthropist Analisa Leonor Balares honors her roots and her family’s roots by embarking on a historic project to produce 125 paintings and works of art for philanthropic benefit.  

Produced through Studio MelyRemy, the art studio that Analisa has named after her beloved parents - Mother Mely and Father Remy - each of her works of art, as well as art prints, will philanthropically benefit organizations and causes she is dedicated to:

As Analisa works on her Vision 125 Art for Humanity Series, she also meant to empower artists to make a difference in uplifting humanity and saving our planet through our art, our communities, and our collaborations.

Why invest in creating art and building a community of artists who care about the world?

The world we live in has spiraled into the darkest of times: The United Nations has signaled our planet is now in "Code Red" . We have protracted wars and conflicts from Russia to the Middle East to Africa, genocides in Sudan and Myanmar, extremist oppression of women in Iran and Afghanistan, a global refugee population numbering over 110 million displaced people - just among many issues plaguing our world.

All this while  our world is still healing from suffering brought on by covid.

Art has always had power to unite humanity all across divides.

Thus, among many other things, I create art, and I work on bringing together a collective of diverse artists  - to give hope and inspiration, to help lift up humanity and each other, to create light and help spread illumination in the darkness.

~ Analisa Leonor Balares

Analisa started drawing and painting as a five-year-old-girl in the Philippines. Before having any formal education in the arts, she was mentored by her artist cousin Flordelisa Balares, and was the youngest participant in art workshops and the artists collective led by national artist Fernando Sena, hailed as the Father of the Philippine Art Workshops. She has exhibited her paintings and art work in Canada and the Philippines, and now the United States.

Analisa credits her love for art and all things to her parents and family, who very early on, encouraged her curiosity, inspired her joy in learning, and supported her growth and development as a polymath.

Reading classical children’s stories to Analisa as a child, her Mother Mely sparked Analisa’s imagination with visions of faraway lands and fantastic heroes/heroines which she sought to draw and illustrate. Her parents Mely and Remy encouraged Analisa to create artistic cards for family members, to celebrate their birthdays and holidays. Thus, from a very early age, Analisa associated creating art with gifting and creating joy for others.

Born in the same town to widowed mothers, Mely and Remy were childhood sweethearts who started in their philanthropy young, working as teenagers to send each of their siblings to college. In their story, the original Greek meaning of the word comes to life, as philanthropy means “love for humanity.”

In creating art for humanity, Analisa dedicates her Art Studio to her parents, among her primary inspirations, hence the Art Studio name Studio MelyRemy.

  • Womensphere Institute

    One of the primary beneficiaries of the art created through Vision 125 - the Womensphere Institute is founded by Analisa Leonor Balares as an educational and empowerment center that invests in promoting gender equality and advancing women in leadership, capital, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, ats & mathematics).

  • Humansphere Foundation

    Founded by Analisa Leonor Balares to be one of the primary beneficiaries of her art, the Humansphere Foundation cultivates, supports and invests in inspiring people, initiatives, collaborations, and organizations that uplift humanity, that help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and that promote diversity, equality, and inclusion around the world.

    We envision a brighter future and a better, happier, healthier world for all - a sustainable world where diversity and inclusion are celebrated, where we have balanced environmental conservation and greater equality for all people, and where we have successfully fulfilled the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    Explore the Humansphere Foundation

  • Humansphere Foundation Impact Areas

    Through Analisa’s Vision 125, the Humansphere Foundation will also support trusted organizations and social entrepreneurs in a number of key impact areas. In the coming year, we plan to invest in and support select inspiring non-profit organizations in the following impact areas:

    Peace & Humanitarian Affairs; Gender Equality, Empowering Women & Girls; Environment, Sustainability, Nature & Wildlife Conservation; Education & Leadership Development; Community Development, Health, Wellness

    Explore Impact Areas Here