Maria Taniguchi

Maria Taniguchi — Significant Contributions

Contemporary Philippine Art

Taniguchi has developed a multidisciplinary practice that combines painting, sculpture, video, drawing, photography, printmaking, and other media.

Her work often examines labor, repetition, material processes, time, and space. These ideas are especially visible in her long-running Untitled (Brick Paintings) series, which she began in 2008.

Untitled (Brick Paintings)

Taniguchi is best known for her monumental paintings made from repeated hand-painted brick-like forms.

She treats these works as objects that sit between painting and sculpture. Their scale and repetitive construction emphasize physical labor, accumulated time, and the material structure of painting itself.

Hugo Boss Asia Art Award

In 2015, Taniguchi received the Hugo Boss Asia Art Award for Emerging Asian Artists.

The award significantly expanded her international visibility and placed her among a group of contemporary Asian artists recognized for distinctive and influential artistic practices.

Venice Biennale

In 2024, Taniguchi’s work was included in the 60th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, Foreigners Everywhere.

Three of her paintings were presented in the Central Pavilion. This was the first time her work appeared at the Venice Biennale.

International Exhibitions

Taniguchi has participated in several major international exhibitions, including the 2018 Gwangju Biennale, the 2018 Biennale of Sydney, and the 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane.

Her work has also been presented in institutions and exhibitions connected with Centre Pompidou in Paris, ZKM in Karlsruhe, and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp.

Museum Collections and Recognition

Her work has entered major international museum collections.

Works by Taniguchi are associated with institutions including Centre Pompidou, and her paintings have also been acquired by major museums such as Tate Modern, M+ in Hong Kong, and QAGOMA in Brisbane. Centre Pompidou lists her as a Filipino painter, video artist, and sculptor born in Dumaguete.

Connection to Negros Oriental

Taniguchi was born in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.

Although her professional career later developed primarily in Manila and internationally, her origins in Dumaguete form a direct connection to Negros Oriental. Her career is a clear example of an artist from the province whose work achieved recognition well beyond the island, including major biennials and international museums.