Chaotic, abstract, and defiant—these are just a few ways to characterise the work of painter Jigger Cruz, who has become one of the most prominent contemporary artists in the Philippines today.

Many of his paintings can be described as vandalisms or defacements, in that they often feature a traditional, often Western-style artwork covered by thick layers of oil paint in streaks and swirls of different colors. He uses a variety of methods to convey his message such as cutting and even burning. Through this style of impasto painting, Cruz comments on various social issues, including religion, and on the nature of art itself. It has also allowed him to carve his own place in the local arts scene, where he is now well-renowned.

The young artist continues to paint and has even added many sculptures to his body of work, including cast bronze sculptures. His works have been sold and displayed at galleries and exhibitions in the Philippines and around the world, including the Guggenheim in New York and the Saatchi collection in London.