Renz Baluyot (b. 1989, Saudi Arabia) graduated from the University of the Philippines in Diliman with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, major in Painting. Through visual arts, he explores socio-political narratives that center on urban decay; studies on how much of the disintegration (physical or otherwise) in urban cities are actual effects of imposed oppressive political and economic power. In portraying these issues, Baluyot examines the people’s reception to these subtle but punitive atrocities.

His work “Paalam!” depicts an arch, which is a usual landmark when leaving or entering a town. The work signifies a departure as the sun waits to set as it signals the passing of a period and an era.

Baluyot has completed artist residencies in Japan and in the United States. He was one of the participating artists at the first Manila Biennale (2018) and has exhibited two one-person exhibitions at the UP Vargas Museum. Baluyot’s works have been exhibited in international stages in the United Kingdom, Italy, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia. He recently received the Juror’s Choice Award of Merit at the Philippine Art Awards (2020) and has a forthcoming artist residency at the Incheon Art Platform in Korea.