John Alexis Balaguer

Biography

John Alexis Balaguer is a curator, cultural worker, art writer, and educator based in Manila. His practice is grounded in institutional leadership, critical scholarship, and community-centered engagement. He is currently an MA Art Studies candidate at the University of the Philippines Diliman, specializing in Art Histories and Theories. His graduate research is complemented by a Graduate Certificate in Intercentric Art and Curatorial Practice from The New Centre and certification as an Expressive Arts Facilitator through The Arts & Health Institute Philippines in collaboration with the European Graduate School. This interdisciplinary foundation informs both his curatorial practice and his teaching as a lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, where he facilitates critical dialogues on contemporary art and curatorial practice.

Balaguer previously served as Operations Manager and Head of Research at Palacio de Memoria, where he led the museum's operations and directed the Built Heritage project, recipient of the 2021 Philippine Heritage Award. His professional experience also includes curatorial research for the Ayala Museum and contributions to leading international art publications, including ArtAsiaPacific and Ocula. In recognition of his critical writing, he received the Purita Kalaw-Ledesma Award for Art Criticism and was selected as a 2024 Art Writer-in-Residence in Salzburg and a 2025 Asian Cultural Council Fellow in New York, both focused on advancing art criticism and international cultural exchange.

Balaguer is the founder and director of Curare Art Space, a curatorial agency dedicated to supporting emerging contemporary artists in the Philippines. Guided by an ethic of care, his projects create developmental platforms for underrepresented practitioners while fostering meaningful public engagement. By bridging heritage preservation, critical theory, and contemporary curatorial practice, he develops exhibition models that connect local contexts with broader institutional and international discourses.

John Alexis Balaguer, Independent Curator and Lecturer at The University of the Philippines - Diliman, Metro Manila, Philippines, has been awarded by Fernando Zobel de Ayala (Manila, Philippines) and the Getty Foundation (Los Angeles, USA).