Jo Bautista
Jo Bautista seated at her easel in a dark studio, lit by a single lamp, her hand casting a large shadow on the wall behind her
Artist • Manila & Berlin

Jo Bautista

I create the realities I want to see, on canvas and beyond.

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Artist statement

I create to give space for reflection and a sense of possibility, using my time and skills to realise the world I want to live in.

Collections

Three bodies of work

Each collection follows one question: what it means to be Filipino today, what it costs to build a better world, and how we face what frightens us.

Originals from €500 · Ask about a specific work

A Storm Inside Me is Raging: a hand reaching up from a spiral of storm, branches and sampaguita flowers

Being Filipino

Diaspora, typhoons, corruption, and the hope that we rise anyway.

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Strong Like a Woman: oil painting of a woman holding the world with embracing arms

The Art of Social Entrepreneurship

Hope, burnout and resilience from inside the work of changing things.

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From The Monster Series: a fiery, many-armed creature on a dark blue field

The Monster Series

Giving shape and colour to the darker sides of ourselves, and learning to embrace them.

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Selected works

The Philippines is not poor, it's plundered: a crocodile hand over coins, sampaguita strings and a cracked clock
PaintingThe Philippines is not poor, it's plunderedAcrylic, gesso and oil on canvas board · 40 × 50 cm
LightLight Projection Mapping: Festival of StonesWith Ulisse Orlandini Naturstein GmbH · Verona, Italy · 2025
The Calling of a New Day: a glazed brown ceramic rooster head, crowing
CeramicThe Calling of a New DayCeramic sculpture · 24 × 30 cm
Starfish on Fire: a fiery orange and red starfish-like creature with a single eye, flames rising from its arms, on a dark blue and teal field
PaintingStarfish on FireAcrylic on canvas · 61 × 76 cm Sold
Strong Like a Woman: a woman holding the world with embracing arms
PaintingStrong Like a WomanOil on canvas · 24 × 30 cm
Jo Bautista on stage at TEDxESCPBerlin
TalkHow to Paint a Future of HopeTEDxESCPBerlin · Berlin, Germany · 2020
War and Hope: a protea in a vase made from an old tyre, standing on newspapers
PaintingWar and HopeOil on canvas · 30 × 40 cm
The Indigenous Boy: a boy in traditional woven dress and beads standing by a river
PaintingThe Indigenous BoyOil paint and oil pastel on canvas · 18 × 24 cm
BBC StoryWorks The art of values-based leadership Watch the feature →
FeatureLeader GenerationBBC StoryWorks · A branded feature with ESCP Business School · 2025
About

Creating the world I want to see

I'm a Filipina artist, born in Manila and based in Berlin. I work across paint, sculpture and light, exploring identity, hope and transformation.

I founded and lead SendToGive, a Berlin-based organisation that has brought solar light and power to more than 300 off-grid families in the Philippines.

I speak and teach on values-based leadership and storytelling, from TEDx to ESCP's 2025 commencement and a BBC StoryWorks feature. See my talks →

I am passionate about putting my time and skills into creating the world I want to live in. If you feel the same way and want to collaborate, reach out.

  • FromManila, Philippines
  • Based inBerlin, Germany
  • Works inOil, acrylic, ceramics, and light
  • ThemesIdentity · Hope · Transformation
  • Exhibited inManila · Berlin · Verona
Exhibitions

Shown in Manila, Berlin and Verona

  • Face Your MonsterDual show with Anca Bautista · Good Sh*t Coffee, Poblacion, Makati, Philippines
  • Light Projection Mapping: Festival of StonesDesign and execution with Ulisse Orlandini Naturstein GmbH · Verona, Italy
  • Nectar BerlinSlust e.V. · Berlin, Germany
  • Flora & Fauna: Exploring the Relationships between Nature, Culture, and IdentityThe Museum at De La Salle University · Manila, Philippines
  • Solo Show1709 Event Space · Makati, Philippines
  • Re:Emergence with the Pansol PottersLed by Jon & Tessy Pettyjohn · Sierra Madre Gallery, Mandaluyong, Philippines
  • Finalist, Live Painting CompetitionFringe Manila · 1709 Event Space, Makati, Philippines
Press
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