Rinna Soriano’s favorite part of her work is sanding. At her workbench, she stays focused, following the grain, adjusting to changes in its direction. Narra, she has learned, can have interlocking grain. A piece of mango once proved particularly difficult until a worker explained that she had reached the point where a branch once grew […]
M Galerie Celebrates Fourth Anniversary With Group Exhibit
M Galerie in DPL Building, San Juan City celebrated their fourth anniversary recently with their newest group exhibition, CONTINUUM. This new exhibition, which opened on October 8, is filled with new, vivid artworks from twenty-seven esteemed local artists, all of which brings them together for an enigmatic and vivid vision of the gallery that portrays its unique place in our world at large.
“[The exhibit celebrates] the enduring flow of creativity and dialogue between artists and audiences,” a write-up from the gallery said. “Featuring diverse practices, the show reflects on continuity, growth, and the shared pursuit of art across time.”
CONTINUUM contains contributions from well-known and respected artists like Kenneth Montegrande, Zoe Policarpio, Valen Valero, and Leah Curitana, lending their distinctively colorful ideas and aesthetic towards the celebration of the anniversary.
The Joy in Seeing Art
Mykee Martinez, the founder of M Galerie, expressed his joy at celebrating the fourth anniversary of the gallery. An art collector with a knack for design and fashion, he conveyed that the idea of having his own space to exhibit the art he loves seemed impossible until recently.
“The very first show we did, I think it was titled Connecting Pieces,” he said. “It’s meaningful because it was the very first time that I saw myself actually owning a gallery. I used to see art through other galleries and I’ve never really thought I would own one.”
The colorful and expressive artwroks seen in CONTINUUM contains some eye-popping and theatrical images that really stay in one’s mind beyond when one would see it. These general aesthetic concerns reflect Martinez’s own personal taste, one grounded in his desire to add joy and happiness to his spaces.
“I love happy art, the ones that puts you in the mood,” he said. “And I want that for people who come to see our shows as well. I am still working on appreciating the dark and dramatic ones, I can’t say you won’t see it in our space anytime soon but definitely it would be [a while].”
M Galerie: Its Story Moves Forward
Starting a gallery came because of his own obsessions with art. As with many people, his personal collection grew during the pandemic, and he desired to expand towards running a gallery as he found himself dealing with this newly-growing collection.
“I have always been a fan of art, be it fashion or design,” he explained. “I love being surrounded by art and talented artists. [Because of that], I was addicted to buying art, and then when the pandemic came, my habit became even more intense and then one day I realized I was running out of wall space.”
It has not been without its challenges; Martinez said that dealing with the schedules of artists can be a pain. But he had found himself enjoying the process of running a gallery, and finding new things to appreciate about the practice.
In the future, Martinez seeks to not just find more artists, but to expand his gallery further so that he can reach a broader audience of people. Running a gallery has only fed his fascination into art and their artists, and he hopes to continue this further into the future.
CONTINUUM will run in M Galerie until November 5.
Photos provided by the gallery.
Related reading: Gallery Hopping: 5 Must-Visit Art Galleries in Makati
Frequently Asked Questions
The theme of CONTINUUM centers on the enduring flow of creativity and the evolving dialogue between artists and their audiences. Featuring 27 esteemed local artists—including Kenneth Montegrande and Zoe Policarpio—the exhibition serves as a reflection on growth, persistence, and the shared pursuit of artistic vision over the gallery’s first four years in the industry.
The “Happy Art” aesthetic is defined by vivid colors, theatrical imagery, and expressive forms designed to immediately uplift the viewer’s mood. Unlike “dark or dramatic” art, Martinez curates pieces that provide emotional energy and joy, reflecting his background in fashion and design. This aesthetic choice aims to transform the gallery space into a sanctuary of positivity, making art more approachable and emotionally resonant for collectors.
M Galerie was born out of an “addiction” to art collecting that intensified during the pandemic. Founder Mykee Martinez transitioned from a private collector to a gallery owner when his personal acquisition of fashion-forward and design-heavy pieces exceeded his available wall space. This shift from private consumption to public exhibition allowed him to move from “seeing art through other galleries” to orchestrating his own creative narratives.
The anniversary show features a diverse lineup of 27 local artists, most notably:
Kenneth Montegrande: Known for his expressive and atmospheric abstracts.
Zoe Policarpio: Recognized for her distinct use of color and form.
Valen Valero: A versatile artist often exploring geometric and structural themes.
Leah Curitana: Contributing to the gallery’s vivid and enigmatic vision.
Moving forward, M Galerie aims to expand its physical footprint and artist roster to reach a broader, more diverse audience. Founder Mykee Martinez intends to continue championing “happy” and design-centric art while gradually exploring more complex dramatic forms. The goal is to evolve the gallery from a boutique space in San Juan into a major lifestyle destination that bridges the gap between high fashion, interior design, and fine art.
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