Emmanuel Garibay

Emmanuel Garibay, was born in Kidapawan, North Cotabato, Philippines in 1962. He is known as much for his expressionist figurative style as for the content of many of his works, which often express a keen social and political consciousness.

He completed his Fine Arts degree at the University of the Philippines in 1989 and was part of the art group called Artista ng Bayan (People’s Artists). After a stint as an education officer in a cultural division at the Malacañang Palace, he commenced work as a full time artist in 1990 and began his studies at the Union Theological Seminary in 1992 completing a Master of Divinity in 1995.

A prolific and internationally established painter, his work as organizer is an often overlooked but constant passion even when he was still studying at the University of the Philippines. He has headed various art and cultural organizations ever since, spearheading art projects with advocacies such as Tutok Karapatan (artists for human rights, 2006-2008), Kritikal Katoliko (art festival tackling Religion’s impact on Philippine society, Quezon City, 2008), Project Bakawan (campus-wide Environmental Arts Festival, UP Diliman, 2013-2015), and the Paghilom Arts Festival 1-3 (Regional Arts Festival, Cavite, 2016-2020) among others. He is currently chairman of Artletics, a non-stock, non-profit organization that empowers young artists to transform communities through art education.

Garibay believes that art can be an effective medium for awakening consciousness. He believes an awakened consciousness through art can help people pull themselves out of their despondency and feeling of powerlessness to bring about empowered change.