Cover Installation view of Jan Mayo’s art photography exhibition at the Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Tokyo, Japan (Photo: courtesy of the Philippine Embassy in Japan)
Installation view of Jan Mayo’s art photography exhibition at the Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Tokyo, Japan (Photo: courtesy of the Philippine Embassy in Japan)
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From immersive light installations that confront the climate emergency to meticulous brick paintings that measure the quiet passage of time, these global art exhibitions invite us to reconsider our physical and psychological connection to the world around us
Whether mapping the realities of a changing climate or tracing the subtle accumulations of time, Filipino creatives and visiting visionaries turned galleries worldwide into spaces for quiet reflection and perceptual exploration. The Philippine art scene has consistently extended beyond the archipelago, with local galleries and artists establishing a steady presence across major international platforms to initiate dialogues across continents.
This season’s exhibitions revealed a shared desire among artists to interrogate their environments, reflect on personal histories and navigate the borders between the physical, sensory and ecological worlds. From the busy halls of Art Basel to an intimate botanical garden in Tokyo, these global presentations demonstrated how effectively creators translate localised perspectives into broader conversations. Here is a look back at recently concluded international showcases and the ongoing art exhibitions to watch out for.
Read more: June 2026 Art Agenda: recent and ongoing exhibitions around Metro Manila
Art Busan 2026
Improv Art Gallery and Galerie Stephanie represented the Philippines at Art Busan 2026, which ran from May 22 to 24 following a VIP preview on May 21. Improv Art Gallery showcased a diverse collection of contemporary works by E.S.L. Chen, Jared Yokte, Melissa Yeung Yap, Randy Solon and R.M. de Leon.
Meanwhile, Galerie Stephanie featured pieces by A.R. Manalo, Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan and Japanese artist Hideo Tanaka, among others. Together, both galleries bridged local and regional talent with the broader Asian art market, highlighting a dynamic range of figurative and material practices.
Art Basel Switzerland
Silverlens Galleries made a strong showing at Art Basel in Switzerland from June 18 to 21. The gallery highlighted a powerful roster of Southeast Asian talent, featuring the works of Geraldine Javier, Yee I-Lann, Nicole Coson and the late Pacita Abad. The presentation underscored the gallery’s commitment to elevating female voices on the global stage.
Silverlens New York
Meanwhile, Silverlens New York hosted Kawayan de Guia’s debut solo exhibition in the United States, which ran until June 27. The Baguio-based artist brought his signature assemblages and socio-political critiques to the international stage, transforming discarded objects into profound commentaries on post-colonial identity and cultural commodification.
FENIX Museum of Migration | Martha Atienza
In Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Dutch-Filipino video artist Martha Atienza was featured in All Directions, the inaugural exhibition at the newly opened FENIX Museum of Migration. Curated by Wim Pijbes and Anne Kremers, the presentation gathered works by an international roster of artists to explore global migration stories. Set within a historic 1923 warehouse on the Katendrecht Peninsula that once served as a departure point for migrants, Atienza’s inclusion highlighted her ongoing sociological exploration of displacement, community and the shifting ecological realities of coastal environments.
Art Basel Parcours | Nicole Coson
During Art Basel, Nicole Coson presented a towering installation as part of Parcours, the fair’s public art sector curated by Stefanie Hessler. Located in the basement of the KLARA food court in Basel, Coson’s Some place, within here (2024) featured aluminium-cast Aklan oyster shells threaded between interlocking metal loops hanging from the ceiling. The work mimicked the bamboo grid structures used to aquafarm oysters in the Visayan province, acting as a physical record of time and oceanic undercurrents. Set within an international food court, the installation cleverly echoed the daily, global movement of food and culture that Coson’s practice actively traces.
International encounters in the Philippines
While local talents made waves abroad, Manila also served as a crucial hub for cross-cultural exchange. Prominent international artists brought their monumental practices to the city, fostering a deeper dialogue between global perspectives and the local audience.
Above Joan Punyet Miró returns for his second Philippine solo exhibition, ‘Oneness’ (Photo: Adrian Ardiente)
Joan Punyet Miró returns for his second Philippine solo exhibition, ‘Oneness’ (Photo: Adrian Ardiente)
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León Gallery International | Unidad (Oneness)
León Gallery International hosted Unidad (Oneness), the second Philippine exhibition of Barcelona-born artist Joan Punyet Miró, which ran until June 6. The grandson of legendary painter Joan Miró transformed the gallery into an intimate inner landscape. He painted directly onto the charcoal walls and arranged raw mahogany panels marked with vivid primary colours and handwritten text, offering a tactile, physical meditation on intuition and human connection.
Read more: Shared connections: Joan Punyet Miró returns with his second solo exhibition, ‘Oneness’
Exhibition opening of ‘Olafur Eliasson: Your curious journey’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) Manila (Photo: Adrian Ardiente for the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design)
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Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) Manila | Olafur Eliasson: Your curious journey
The Museum of Contemporary Art and Design (MCAD) at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde hosted the final leg of Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s major travelling exhibition, Your curious journey. Running from July 9 to November 15, the show offered a comprehensive survey of Eliasson’s three-decade practice, centring on themes of embodiment, perception and the climate emergency. Highlights included Beauty (1993), a shimmering rainbow created by water nozzles and a spotlight; the sprawling reindeer moss of Moss wall (1994) and Yellow corridor (1997), an immersive space using monofrequency lights to challenge physiological perception. Ahead of the opening night, Eliasson delivered a free public lecture at the Design + Arts Campus, expanding on the role of art in driving environmental awareness.
Ongoing exhibitions across the globe
The momentum continues through the second half of the year, with Filipino artists maintaining a formidable presence in major biennales and international institutions. These ongoing shows invite global audiences to engage with rigorous, highly conceptual practices.
Cloudgrey Gallery at Venice Biennale | Ronald Ventura
Cloudgrey Gallery presents the works of Ronald Ventura at the 61st Venice Biennale, running until November 22. The artist brought his signature hyper-realistic overlays and sharp cultural critiques to one of the world’s most prestigious platforms, continuing his exploration of the complex, layered realities of contemporary Filipino identity.
See the exhibition at Docks Cantieri Cucchini Castello 1/A, 30122 Venice
Above Exhibition view of ‘Maria Taniguchi: Afterimage’ at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark (Photo: courtesy of Singapore Art Museum)
Exhibition view of ‘Maria Taniguchi: Afterimage’ at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark (Photo: courtesy of Singapore Art Museum)
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Singapore Art Museum | Maria Taniguchi: Afterimage
Opened last July 24 and running until November 22, the Singapore Art Museum presents Maria Taniguchi: Afterimage, marking the artist’s first major solo museum show in Singapore. Surveying nearly two decades of her multidisciplinary practice, the exhibition gathers her signature untitled “brick paintings”, four video works and site-responsive Runaways sculptures carved from duhat (Java plum) wood. The showcase also debuts a newly commissioned video, A painter, if black were a place, which reflects on her intergenerational connection with her mother, painter Christina “Kitty” Taniguchi, through archival digital stills and hand-painted fields of black.
(In the middle) Ambassador Mylene Garcia Albano and Jan Mayo with (from left) Kenji Kano, Ayumi Terada, Jin Murata and Hirohisa Mori from the University of Tokyo (Photo: courtesy of the Philippine Embassy in Japan)
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Koishikawa Botanical Garden | Faces and Flora
Photographer Jan Mayo exhibits Faces and Flora at the Koishikawa Botanical Garden in Tokyo, Japan. Running until August 16, the presentation explores the delicate intersections of portraiture and botanical forms, capturing the quiet, organic tension between human subjects and the natural world.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
