Manila exhibitions to see this May 2026
This May, gallery season in Manila is still at full speed. Across the city, artists are grappling with memory, technology, violence, intimacy, nature, and the overstimulated state of modern existence.
From ambitious group exhibitions to deeply personal solo presentations, this month’s shows reveal how artists continue to shape meaning in uncertain times.
“Negative Capability” curated by Angel Velasco Shaw at Galleria Duemila
Curated by Angel Velasco Shaw, “Negative Capability” takes its title from the idea coined by poet John Keats, described in the exhibition notes as “the ability of artists to dwell in uncertainty… without the need for immediate answers.”
It’s a very intimate and meaningful show that’s emerged from years of collaboration as well as friendship, bringing together old guard artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Charlie Co, Kawayan de Guia, Nona Garcia, and Manny Montelibano.
“Negative Capability” runs from April 11 to June 20
Celine Lee, “Times: Expansion of Matter” at West Gallery
Celine Lee’s “Times: Expansion of Matter” features one of the month’s strongest works, using generative AI imagery and copper oxidation to explore the spectacle of violence. Originating from images of explosions caused by missile strikes during the early stages of the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, Lee fed these into generative AI systems before manually transferring them onto copper sheets.
In the exhibition text, Nee Maestro describes the image as, “a grand-yet-sterile guess at what an apocalyptic mass of explosions might look like. Its oranges are garish, its whites searing, the towers of fire and smoke imposing. Yet one instinctively feels reluctant to be moved by them.”
“Times: Expansion of Matter” runs from May 7 to June 6
Geremy Samala, “A Verdant Perpetual Mass,” curated by Norman Crisologo at Artinformal
Be it the colors or the undulating forms, there is always something about Samala’s work that pulls you in. In “A Verdant Perpetual Mass,” the artist transforms flowers into images far more volatile and emotionally charged than mere decorative still lifes. Curated by Norman Crisologo, the exhibition frames organic growth as inseparable from decay.
Samala’s florals pulse with tension, rendered through aggressive brushwork, sharp contrasts, and dense, often brooding color palettes. Flowers wilt and struggle across the canvas, refusing to romanticize nature.
“A Verdant Perpetual Mass” runs from April 16 to May 14
Katha Art, “Tapestry of Woven Dreams” at The Podium Atrium
What began as casual weekly painting sessions eventually evolved into Katha Art, a collective shaped by years of plein air painting sessions, critique circles, and “Happy Tuesdays,” where the group would partake in meals and cocktails after a day of painting. Originally mentored by the late Nestor Villanueva and now guided by Jeffrey Consumo, the group exhibition reflects a continuing friendship through changing seasons of life.
Participating artists include Gracie Aranda, Rellie Liwag, Clarita Lazatin Magat, Bebet Pastelero Sto. Tomas, Vida Doria, and Salie Henson Naguiat, who each bring distinct personal histories and styles into the show.
The exhibition also carries a charitable dimension, with a portion of proceeds benefiting ANCOP, Sibul Ning Aeta Foundation Inc., and Mary Queen of Heavens Missionaries.
“Tapestry of Woven Dreams” runs from May 22 to 28
Kiko Moran, “Fragments of Why” at Vinyl on Vinyl
For Kiko Moran, art functions as both a spiritual necessity and a social inquiry. “Fragments of Why” draws from the artist’s experiences growing up neurodivergent within an environment shaped by narratives of struggle and survival.
His practice combines personal storytelling with references to psychology, philosophy, politics, science, and history, positioning art as a tool for understanding both the self and the broader sociocultural landscape. The exhibition frames artistic creation as an essential act of human flourishing.
“Fragments of Why” opens May 9
“Of White” curated by Arianna Bongato at White Walls Gallery
At first glance, white may appear neutral or empty, but “Of White” argues otherwise. Bringing together artists including Enzo Peralta, Gab Hulleza, Jobert Cruz, Kiko Urquiola, Mark Nativo, Nicole Conwi, Nix Puno, Pete Rich, and Sher Cajucom, the exhibition examines white not simply as a color but as a psychological and cultural condition.
Curated by Arianna Bongato, she describes white as a form of pause or “negative space” within overstimulated environments.
“Of White” runs from April 24 to May 12
“Skins” curated by Patrick de Veyra at The Drawing Room
Curated by our very own contributor Patrick de Veyra, “Skins” is a group exhibition that looks at surfaces “as a charged site where perception, memory, and identity take form.”
Bringing together artists Micaela Benedicto, Gio Panlilio, Miguel Uy, Julieanne Ng, Paolo Icasas, Bjorn Calleja, Jason Montinola, and de Veyra himself, the exhibition features a range of media, from photography and painting to installation and material experimentation.
“Skins” runs from May 9 to June 6
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