Cristina “Kitty” Taniguchi
Cristina “Kitty” Sollesta Taniguchi is a Filipino visual artist, curator, and cultural advocate based in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Raised in Dumaguete, she has worked for decades in painting, sculpture, curatorial projects, and the development of the local visual arts community.
She is the founder of Mariyah Gallery, an artist-run space established in Dumaguete in 1992. Her work has been exhibited in the Philippines and internationally, including solo exhibitions at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ayala Museum, Pinto Gallery, and Silverlens.
Biography
Name: Cristina Sollesta Taniguchi
Also known as: Kitty Taniguchi
Born: January 8, 1952, Manila, Philippines
Location / connection: Raised in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
Field: Visual arts, painting, sculpture, curatorial work
Education: Bachelor of Mass Communication; Master of Arts in English Literature
Institution: Silliman University
Former role: Faculty member, Silliman University Department of English and Literature
Founder: Mariyah Gallery, Dumaguete City
Recognition: Outstanding Sillimanian Award for Visual Arts, 2026
Based in: Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
Cristina “Kitty” Taniguchi — Significant Contributions
Mariyah Gallery
Taniguchi founded Mariyah Gallery in Dumaguete City in 1992. The artist-run space became part of the city’s visual arts community and provided a venue for exhibitions and other cultural activities.
Visual Arts
Taniguchi has worked as a painter and sculptor for more than four decades. Her work has been presented in major Philippine art institutions and galleries, including the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Ayala Museum, Pinto Gallery, and Silverlens.
International Exhibitions
Her international activities have included participation in several editions of the Beijing International Art Biennale, the Asian Arts Festival in China, and the Changchun International Sculpture Symposium. She also participated in the Luxor International Painting Symposium in Egypt. Works by Taniguchi entered collections associated with the Beijing International Art Biennale, while one of her sculpture installations is located at Ordos Sculpture Park in Inner Mongolia, China.
Dumaguete Terra Cotta Biennial
Taniguchi served as project director for the Dumaguete Open Biennial Terra Cotta Art Festival in 2005 and 2007. The event formed part of her broader involvement in developing and promoting visual arts activities in Dumaguete.
Philippine Art Awards
She received recognition in the Philippine Art Awards, including an Honorable Mention and finalist placements during the 1990s and early 2000s.
Outstanding Sillimanian Award
In 2026, Silliman University presented Taniguchi with the Outstanding Sillimanian Award for Visual Arts. The university cited her long career as an artist, curator, mentor, and cultural advocate and her contribution to Philippine visual arts and artists in the Visayas.
Legacy in Negros Oriental
Through her artistic practice, Mariyah Gallery, exhibition projects, and cultural work, Taniguchi has contributed to the development of the visual arts community in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental. Her career connects the local arts scene with national institutions and international exhibitions while maintaining Dumaguete City as the base of her work.
Website – silverlensgalleries.com
Photo source – Silverlens Galleries