de Chavez, Leslie

Born in Manila in 1978, Leslie de Chavez earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1999. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, he has established himself as a prominent and highly reflective voice in both the local and international contemporary art circuits. De Chavez is exclusively represented by Arario Gallery and is based in the Philippines, where he actively nurtures the next generation of regional creators as the founder and director of the independent, artist-run initiative Project Space Pilipinas in Lucban, Quezon. Major Awards & Distinctions:2014: Winner, Ateneo Art Awards (Fernando Zóbel Prize for Visual Art) 2010: Winner, Ateneo Art Awards (Visual Art) International Biennials: Featured participant in landmark exhibitions including the Singapore Biennale (2013), the Asian Art Biennial in Taiwan (2011), and the Nanjing Triennial in China (2008). Selected Solo Exhibitions:2026: Thy Will Be Done – Arario Gallery Seoul, South Korea (A major multi-floor exhibition exploring faith, authority, and collective desire) 2025: Solo Presentation – Gajah Gallery, Singapore 2021: A Lonely Picket in the Balcony – Silverlens, Manila / Singapore 2018: The Allegory of the Cave – Arario Gallery Shanghai, China 2016: When Reason Sleeps – Arario Gallery Seoul, South Korea 2015: Solo Exhibition – Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, UK Selected Group Exhibitions:2025: Group Presentation – Gajah Gallery Yogyakarta, Indonesia 2019: Group Showcase – Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum, Bratislava, Slovakia 2015: Group Exhibition – Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art, South Korea 2014: Complicated – López Museum and Library, Manila, Philippines 2014: Group Exhibition – Arario Museum in Space, Seoul, South Korea 2012 & 2013: Special Expositions – Singapore Art Museum (SAM), Singapore