Galerie Joaquin Brings Sculptors Together for ‘Philippine Sculpture Today’

The exhibition brings together established masters and younger artists while raising funds for a book documenting Philippine sculpture.

Words Gerie Marie Consolacion
Photos courtesy of Jay Joaquin Balolong
August 19, 2026

Artwork by Michael Cacnio, Gabay ni Ama, 59.5 x 29 x 9, Brass

Galerie Joaquin has brought together 27 Filipino sculptors for Philippine Sculpture Today, an exhibition that highlights both established figures in the medium and a younger generation exploring new approaches to sculpture.

The exhibition features works in stainless steel, glass, wood, brass, and other materials. Among the artists included are Eduardo Castrillo, Ramon Orlina, and Julie Lluch, alongside younger sculptors whose practices move across different materials and disciplines.

The show also has a larger goal beyond the exhibition itself. Part of its proceeds will fund a coffee table book dedicated to Philippine sculpture. The publication will feature the 27 participating artists, including their portraits, practices, and bodies of work.

Visitors during the opening night at the Galerie Joaquin

The project comes amid concerns about the limited documentation of Philippine sculpture. Several of the younger artists featured in the exhibition pointed to the lack of records and visibility for sculptors in the local art scene.

Peñaso Pushes Stainless Steel Beyond Its Usual Form

Sam Peñaso is presenting a work from his infinity series, which explores forms without a clear beginning or end.

Artwork by Sam Penaso, Bonsai Gold, 16 x 11 x 12 inches, Stainless steel

The artist primarily works with stainless steel, but for the exhibition he added color and a top coat to the material, moving away from its usual bare and reflective finish.

Peñaso also works across painting, performance, and sculpture. He said he was pleased to be included in an exhibition specifically focused on sculpture, despite his practice moving between different disciplines.

“Bale masaya dahil nakalagay kasi ‘Philippine Sculpture Today,’ na kahit papaano napansin din na sculpture,” he said.

Artwork by Marge Organo, Dog Reynier, 33.8 x 38.4 x 11.5 cm, Coldworked Optical Glass

When asked how he approaches working across different forms, Peñaso described his process as “parang rumble, parang magulo yong utak,” or a mind that is constantly busy and somewhat chaotic.

For him, the most important response from viewers is simply that they notice the work.

“Happy ako kung magandahan sila,” he said. “Basta siguro parang napapansin lang nila ay happy na ako doon.”

Hipolito Finds Inspiration in Backyard Birds

Ella Hipolito’s latest sculptures grew out of an unexpected source: the wild birds she began feeding in her backyard.

Artwork by Ella Hipolito, 11.5 x 9.5 x 7.5, Brass

The birds, mostly maya or sparrows, gradually became part of her daily life. Hipolito said her work explores the attachment people develop toward animals, but shifts the focus away from the dogs and cats that usually dominate conversations about pets.

“Basically, ang attachment natin sa pets natin, masyadong nagiging personal,” she said.

Her sculptures use brass and other soft metals to create bird forms that appear lighter and softer than their materials suggest.

Artwork by Nap Limaten, 10.75 x 10.5 x 8, Glass

“Gusto ko maging soft yong image niya,” she said.

Hipolito also wants the sculptures to suggest movement rather than simply represent birds as static objects.

“Kumbaga makikita mo pa rin yong activity na nangyayari doon sa daily na buhay natin,” she said.

The work, she explained, is rooted in the ordinary activity happening around people every day, including the birds that are often overlooked.

Gabito Turns Rural Life Into Sculpture

For James Gabito, sculpture developed alongside his painting practice.

He began working in three dimensions partly because he would get tired of painting and wanted another way to develop his ideas.

Artwork by James Gabito, Blessed Together, GJM JGMM 062526-02, 14 x 15.5 x 7.45, Metal and Resin

“Minsan madali akong ma-bored 'pag nagpe-paint ako, so nagja-jump ako into paintings and sculptures,” he said.

Much of his work draws from rural life and the experiences of Filipino families working in the province. His sculptures depict scenes of harvesting and family labor, reflecting what he describes as a familiar Filipino tradition of helping one another through difficult times.

“Ang typical Filipino culture talaga na nagtutulungan tayo kahit anong hirap ng buhay,” he said.

Gabito also sees the exhibition as an opportunity to strengthen the local sculpture community.

Artwork by Ronnel Cainto, 17 x 13 x 11, Carved Wood

He recalled a conversation with a mentor who pointed to the small number of visible sculptors working in the country.

“Kulang nga naman kung wala kang ibang makikita na gumagawa, kakaunti masyado,” Gabito said.

He hopes the exhibition can help encourage more artists to explore the medium.

“Siguro ito ‘yong umpisa para mapapalawak pa natin ‘yong sculpture scene,” he said.

Documenting a Medium

The experiences of Peñaso, Hipolito, and Gabito reflect the wider range of practices represented in Philippine Sculpture Today. Their approaches differ, but all three point to the need for greater visibility and documentation of sculpture in the Philippines.

Artwork by Katrina Cuenca, 7.5 x 5.5 x 5, Glass

By bringing established artists together with younger practitioners, the exhibition offers a view of the medium across generations.

The planned coffee table book will extend that effort beyond the gallery. By documenting the 27 participating sculptors and their work, the project aims to create a more lasting record of contemporary Philippine sculpture.