Rooms of Memory
Artist Cham Cristobal shares the personal stories attached to the familiar objects in her work.
Words Maia San Diego
Photos courtesy of Cham Cristobal
January 06, 2026
Stories hold power. Memories of a difficult past, an unregistered birth certificate that stalled her schooling, her parents’ separation—life can feel like it’s holding you in a chokehold.
For a time, life weighed heavily on Cham, but she never allowed it to stop her from living.
Her lack of formal art education has never hindered her. Instead, she has committed herself to honing her craft through hard work and dedication. One of R Gallery’s exclusive artists, Cham Cristobal is a full-time artist and mother. She balances studio work with household responsibilities in her home in Las Piñas.
In her studio, she paints doll-like girls in rooms packed with a hodgepodge of objects: a Hershey’s chocolate bar, Alice in Wonderland references, teddy bear images—elements that serve as anchors to personal stories.
But how did her artistic journey begin? Few would guess that it all started with an eggplant.
How It Started
Cabin
While the eggplant icon may carry cheeky meanings today, for Cham it represents something pure. Back in elementary school, her class was tasked to draw an object. When the deadline came, Cham submitted a drawing made by her mother—an eggplant. Unexpectedly, the teacher asked her to redraw it on the blackboard. Hesitantly, she drew her own version, and succeeded. In that moment, she discovered her creative talent.
“The teacher asked me to draw the eggplant on the blackboard. Good thing I was able to do it; that’s when I found out that I also knew how to draw,” Cham shares.
Years later, she continues to incorporate food into her paintings—jars of Nutella, slices of cake, and other playful details.
How It’s Going
“Because of my deep passion for the arts, I worked hard from the very beginning, striving to learn everything I could,” Cham says.
Dutiful Daughters, 2025, oil on canvas.
Her works now reflect smooth brushwork and carefully refined technique. The countless objects in her compositions are highly detailed renderings of symbols of childhood, melancholy, and innocence. With their tight, cluttered arrangements, her paintings recall hidden-object games, carrying the same sense of play.
Her artistic foundation was built through poster-making and slogan-making contests, where she frequently won top prizes. Yet despite her achievements, Cham is not one to celebrate. “The truth is, I’m not familiar with the feeling of celebrating,” she admits.
Whenever she won as a student, she would hand the prize money to her mother, store her medals and trophies, and simply go to sleep—a quiet ritual born from discipline rather than celebration.
Her dedication eventually led to one of her biggest milestones: her first solo exhibition in 2023 at R Gallery. Cham recalls feeling content in the hush of solitude during her show. Reserved by nature, she finds comfort in quiet moments and becomes anxious when she has to speak publicly. “During my first solo show at R Gallery, I felt happy because it was quiet. I prefer it that way because I get scared when I need to talk in person,” she says.
Her creative practice gives her space for calm, letting her stay low-key while her works speak on her behalf. Even on slow days at home, she embraces simplicity—playing the guitar, spending time with her children. That is the heart of Cham’s personal and creative life.
Titled Untitled, 2025, oil on canvas.
Like the isolated figures in her paintings, surrounded by inanimate objects, Cham’s interests reflect whimsy tinged with somber hues. Despite her parents’ separation, she treasures childhood memories with her father bringing her small toys—simple joys forever etched in her mind. She once crafted tiny accessories for her dolls and even transformed the underside of a TV stand into a Barbie house. By age 15, she was dressing her dolls much like the subjects she paints today. “I put earrings and red eyeliner on the dolls, then I hung them on my bag,” she recalls.
From the very beginning, Cham’s creative expression leaned toward what would become her signature—eyes accented with red. Her influences include Tim Burton and Emilie Autumn, whose dark, eccentric aesthetics echo in her work. She also cites Johnny Depp, whose portrayals of peculiar characters parallel the curiosities found in her Alice in Wonderland-inspired pieces.
How It Will Be
Beyond these personal stories, Cham’s artistic path continues to unfold. She is eager to experiment with new mediums and envisions exploring mixed media and even toy production when the opportunity comes.
La Vie en Route, 2025, oil on canvas.
Many doors are opening for her. Having joined fairs such as MoCAF and Xavier Art Fest, Cham remains active in the art scene. As part of R Gallery’s roster of exclusive artists, she already has several projects planned for 2026, including her upcoming participation in TOPS Artfest in Cebu.
Her studio may become busier, but Cham has learned how to maintain balance.
Once, there was a young girl with no proof of birth.
Once, a shy child hid behind her mother’s drawing.
Not long ago, an adolescent painted her dolls’ eyes red.
Cham’s story—whimsical with a touch of gloom—is one unafraid to take up space. Stories may hold weight, but they do not have to hold you down. In stillness, in silence, in the presence of memory—within rooms crowded with objects—are corners where Cham continues to breathe.
