Grounded, Yet Rising
From engineering to fine art, Glenn Perez’s journey reflects discipline, persistence, and an engagement with nature and material.
Words Jewel Chuaunsu
Photos courtesy of Art Lounge Manila and Glenn Perez
June 08, 2026
A Field Within (Diptych), 2026, 36 x 36, Acrylic and Oil on Canvas
Glenn Perez discovered his love for art during his elementary school years, joining school competitions and even winning first place in two regional poster-making contests. He initially dreamed of pursuing Fine Arts or Architecture in college, but his mother advised him otherwise, encouraging him to take up Mechanical Engineering and follow in his father’s footsteps. Perez complied, later admitting that he had little opportunity to engage in art during his time at Batangas State University.
After passing the board exam, he began his career in manufacturing, moved into consulting, and eventually joined the Lopez Group of Companies. While working there, Perez frequently explored the Lopez Museum, where he developed a habit of collecting art books that became a source of inspiration. He was also influenced by a friend’s photography, particularly its use of chiaroscuro.
In Coexistence and Balance, 2026, 24 x 32, oil on canvas
Motivated by these experiences, Perez returned to joining art competitions, starting with the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (MADE) in 2009, where he became a semi-finalist. He was pleasantly surprised to sell his first artwork for ₱25,000 during the competition.
Balancing a full-time career with his growing passion for art, Perez began attending auctions and collecting small works. He continued to join competitions, including the National Pastel Painting Competition by the Philippine Pastel Artists Inc. (PPA), where he initially did not place. Undeterred, he studied the winning pieces and resolved to improve.
His persistence paid off. In 2018, at the PPA 2nd Annual Juried Exhibition – Primiera, he won the Best of Show Award—his first major recognition. That same year, he also secured third place in the PPA National Pastel Painting Competition. Soon after, he was elected president of the Philippine Pastel Artists, an organization dedicated to promoting the pastel medium and elevating its value.
Iridescent Field, 2026, 18 x 48, Acrylic on Canvas
As a self-taught artist, Perez intentionally explores a wide range of subjects and mediums. As he explains, “My principle is to try different subjects, and eventually the time will come when I can say, ‘This is my style.’ But it will be derived from many activities, explorations, exposure, and feedback.”
His corporate background proved valuable in his role as president, helping him lead and manage the organization effectively. Under his leadership, the group successfully organized a national online convention during the pandemic, along with a fundraising auction that generated substantial support.
Perez also initiated a four-person exhibition with fellow pastel artists Iris Babao-Uy, Nell Belgado, and Tessa Punzalan-Brodeth. Titled Intrinsic Brilliance, the show was held at Ayala Museum’s ArtistSpace, with curator Abe Orobia. The group invested in a good venue and took a hands-on approach, each producing eleven works for a total of 44 pieces. As emerging artists, they saw the exhibition as a stepping stone toward future solo shows.
Quiet Strength, 2026, 18 x 48, Acrylic on Canvas
Perez describes the experience as setting off a domino effect. Shortly after, he and Babao-Uy held back-to-back solo exhibitions at Art Anton—Esplorare by Perez and Cantabile by Babao-Uy. Perez’s works sold out, leading to his inclusion in the Manila’Bang Show. Orobia later introduced him to artist Ombok Villamor, resulting in a two-person exhibition for Perez and Babao-Uy at OMVI ART Gallery. Villamor’s connection to ManilART further opened doors, eventually leading to Perez being featured in the event.
In 2024, just before mounting his first solo exhibition, Perez made the bold decision to leave his full-time job. Some colleagues questioned whether it was a smart move, especially in midlife. Perez himself acknowledges that it may not be the safest choice—but it is a brave one. “For many years, I’ve been contributing to the vision and mission of a company. Why not create my own vision, targets, and goals?”
Perez works across realism and abstraction, as well as portraiture, still life, and landscape. In his portraits, he seeks to convey emotion through the subject’s eyes. His still lifes are carefully arranged, with compositions that suggest new meanings, stories, and memories. In his landscapes, he turns his attention to often overlooked scenes—such as damo-damo, talahib, and rocks—while emphasizing texture and detail. In abstraction, he explains that “the idea is to capture the energy, vibes, and mood from nature,” adding that “nature is the best teacher when it comes to painting.”
Shared Horizon I (Diptych), 2026, 36 x 54, Acrylic and Oil on Canvas
Beyond pastels, Perez works with charcoal, acrylic, and oil. He also experiments with reflective, metallic surfaces in his Aurumscape and Caurumscape series, rendering still lifes, abstractions, and landscapes in gold, as well as in bronze and copper tones. At the Gateway Art Fair in 2025, he presented Aurumscape: A Gentle Radiance from Within, followed by Caurum at Artasia Gallery.
Perez’s background in engineering informs his artistic practice, giving him a keen understanding of materials and a problem-solving mindset. It also instills in him the patience and discipline essential to sustaining his work.
A key milestone in his career was his inclusion in Art Lounge Manila’s presentation at Art Fair Philippines, Dichotomy of Form, a group exhibition of black-and-white works, where his pieces sold out. He describes the experience as “overwhelming,” noting that such opportunities are rare, and expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him by the gallery. Collectors have praised his work for its mood, minimalism, and soul.
Shared Horizon II (Diptych), 2026, 36x 24, Acrylic and Oil on Canvas
Looking ahead, Perez is preparing for solo exhibitions with Art Lounge Manila and Chef Jessie, alongside group shows. He is also set to be inducted into the Master Circle of the International Association of Pastel Societies (IAPS), in recognition of having his works accepted or awarded in IAPS Juried Exhibitions five times. He will receive his Master Circle Medallion this June at the IAPS Convention, a global gathering of pastel societies. Perez will be the first Philippine-based artist to receive this honor.
For those beginning their art journey, Perez emphasizes that there are no shortcuts. Regardless of where one is in life, entering the art world means starting from zero. He advises aspiring artists to work hard, do their research, and cultivate humility, discipline, and persistence, while showing respect for fellow artists, galleries, and organizations. Recalling the advice of Romulo Galicano, he notes that recognition is like a sweet perfume—one to be appreciated, but not consumed, lest it become harmful. With the inevitable highs and lows in an art career, he stresses the importance of staying grounded. As a late bloomer in the art scene, opportunities and success seem to have come at the right time for Perez, tempered by wisdom and life experience.
