The son of a Methodist
pastor, he was raised in Davao, the multicultural city that nurtured
his early interest in art. He discovered a love for painting while
a student at the University of the Philippines. In 1993 Garibay
held his first solo exhibition, which showed his ability to paint
in oil, his favorite medium, and his talent to tell a story through
art. Many of Garibay's paintings focus on everyday people and places.
He paints ordinary people in an attempt to portray them as political
entities. In this way Garibay's activism shows through in his work.
He truthfully portrays ordinary people and places, leaving out the
glamour that most Filipino artists add to their work. Garibay says,
"It is the richness of the poor that I am drawn to and which I am
part of that I want to impart in my art."
More reproductions and critical essays can be found in the OMSC
monograph on Emmanuel Garibay's art,
Where God Is, published
in 2010, available through OMSC (books link). You can also visit
the artist's website at:
www.emmanuelgaribay.com.