Here at Don’t Panic we have our collective ear permanently glued to the artistic ground. Each issue our WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT… section alerts your attention to a hot young artist that you probably didn't know about. This issue we have Pio Abad, born in Manila, Philippines, but living and working in Glasgow. Pio recently graduated from the Glasgow School of Art where his thesis received an award of distinction and a travel grant of £1,000. To top it all, he managed to sell all his paintings and illustrations at the end of year exhibition. Pio was also recently selected as a winning finalist in the 2007 Nationwide Mercury Prize Art Competition, which offers art students from across UK the chance to enter a piece of their work which has been inspired by music. See his work, read his interview.

Right before this interview I was... at the Palais de Tokyo checking out the Third Mind, a group show curated by Ugo Rondinone.

My studio space is... full of wigs and drawings.

The inspirations for my most recent work are... Imelda Marcos and the Marquis de Sade.

The Art World... is an attractive and incestuous place.
 
The Music I am listening to at the moment is... Thee Headcoats, CSS, X-ray Spex

The voices in my head are saying... work wigs work wigs work.

After this, I am going... to enjoy the rest of Paris. I'm on a one week holiday before going back to my Glasgow studio.

Pio Abad exhibition Glasgow School of Art