The Metropolitan Museum of Manila presents Miniaturismo to Modernism: Philippine Art from the 19th Century to the Sixties as part of M 50 Now, its year-long celebration marking the Museum’s 50th Anniversary.
Curated by art curator and academic Dr. Patrick Flores, the exhibition offers a broad survey of Philippine art from the 19th century to the 1960s, tracing the artists, ideas, and developments that shaped its history. It explores three significant periods: the final century of Spanish colonial rule, when Filipino artists developed their practice through local art schools and European academies; the emergence of modernism, as artists began to question and move beyond established traditions; and the period when Philippine art increasingly engaged with international movements and ideas, developing its own visual language in response to a changing world.
Drawn primarily from private collections, with a selection of works from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the exhibition also highlights the important role of patronage and stewardship in preserving and advancing Philippine art. Spanning key periods and institutions, it traces the evolution of artistic practice from miniaturismo to modernism, from the Academia de Dibujo to the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and from pioneering figures such as Damian Domingo and Juan Luna to the National Artists for Visual Arts recognized since 1972. It also brings together artists from different generations and contexts, from Juan Senson, a mentor to generations of artists in Angono, to internationally acclaimed artist David Medalla.
Through this historical survey, Miniaturismo to Modernism offers audiences an opportunity to revisit the works, figures, and ideas that have shaped Philippine art, while gaining a deeper understanding of its continuing engagement with both local traditions and the wider world.
Miniaturismo to Modernism: Philippine Art from the 19th Century to the Sixties will be on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from 08 November 2026 to 30 May 2027. Tickets are available online at metmuseum.ph and on-site.
The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of BPI Private Wealth and San Miguel Corporation as Gold Sponsors; DENZA as Official Premium Mobility Partner; TBWA\SMP as Creative Partner; EPSON as Technology Partner; AWC Philippines as Wine Sponsor; and Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc. and ARC Gin as Cocktail Sponsors.
Additional support is provided by Focus Global, McDonald’s Philippines, Tatler Philippines, Pioneer Insurance, and Uniqlo.
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The Metropolitan Museum of Manila presents Miniaturismo to Modernism: Philippine Art from the 19th Century to the Sixties as part of M 50 Now, its year-long celebration marking the Museum’s 50th Anniversary.
Curated by art curator and academic Dr. Patrick Flores, the exhibition offers a broad survey of Philippine art from the 19th century to the 1960s, tracing the artists, ideas, and developments that shaped its history. It explores three significant periods: the final century of Spanish colonial rule, when Filipino artists developed their practice through local art schools and European academies; the emergence of modernism, as artists began to question and move beyond established traditions; and the period when Philippine art increasingly engaged with international movements and ideas, developing its own visual language in response to a changing world.
Drawn primarily from private collections, with a selection of works from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the exhibition also highlights the important role of patronage and stewardship in preserving and advancing Philippine art. Spanning key periods and institutions, it traces the evolution of artistic practice from miniaturismo to modernism, from the Academia de Dibujo to the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and from pioneering figures such as Damian Domingo and Juan Luna to the National Artists for Visual Arts recognized since 1972. It also brings together artists from different generations and contexts, from Juan Senson, a mentor to generations of artists in Angono, to internationally acclaimed artist David Medalla.
Through this historical survey, Miniaturismo to Modernism offers audiences an opportunity to revisit the works, figures, and ideas that have shaped Philippine art, while gaining a deeper understanding of its continuing engagement with both local traditions and the wider world.
Miniaturismo to Modernism: Philippine Art from the 19th Century to the Sixties will be on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila from 08 November 2026 to 30 May 2027. Tickets are available online at metmuseum.ph and on-site.
The exhibition is made possible through the generous support of BPI Private Wealth and San Miguel Corporation as Gold Sponsors; DENZA as Official Premium Mobility Partner; TBWA\SMP as Creative Partner; EPSON as Technology Partner; AWC Philippines as Wine Sponsor; and Destileria Limtuaco & Co. Inc. and ARC Gin as Cocktail Sponsors.
Additional support is provided by Focus Global, McDonald’s Philippines, Tatler Philippines, Pioneer Insurance, and Uniqlo.
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