Turalba, Josephine

Born in Manila in 1965, Josephine Turalba developed a unique, transborder creative perspective early in life, balancing a passion for underwater exploration—having been an active scuba diver since age 12—with intensive fine arts research. Her studio practice underwent a profound material shift in 2006 following a devastating personal tragedy: the unsolved gun murder of her father by a regional gang. Processing this immense trauma, she instinctively turned to the literal weapons of his death, collecting spent shells to create her internationally recognized bullet-armor series.

Turalba’s academic and institutional resume is highly distinguished. She holds an MFA in New Media from the Transart Institute in New York and a Master's degree in Research from Sint-Lucas Antwerpen in Belgium. From 2012 to 2015, she served as the Dean of the School of Fine Arts and Design at the Philippine Women's University (PWU), introducing advanced, media-agnostic research systems to the department.

A former Research Fellow at the prestigious MIT Program in Art, Culture, and Technology (ACT) and the Future Heritage Lab, Turalba splits her time between Manila and Boston. She stands as the only female Filipino artist shortlisted for the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, solidifying her position as an indispensable voice in global contemporary art.

Exhibition & Collection History
Selected Individual & Group Bienniales
2026: Art Basel Hong Kong – Featured Solo Presentation under 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong (Displaying her groundbreaking maritime tapestries Waterworks, PolySea, and Strait Lines).

2025: Nakanojo Biennale – Featured International Installation Artist, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

2025: Beauty Will Save the World – Curated by Iola Lenzi, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Art Basel Hong Kong.

2018: 6th Canakkale Biennale – Canakkale, Turkey.

2016: The London Biennale – London, United Kingdom.

2015: 56th Venice Biennale (Scandals Intervention) – Venice, Italy (A major showcase highlighting her wearable bullet objects and public participatory frameworks).

2013: VII Tashkent Biennale of Contemporary Art – Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

2010: 12th Cairo International Biennale – Cairo, Egypt.

Permanent Institutional Collections
Turalba’s high-precision works and mixed-media tapestries are preserved within premier public museums and elite private assets globally:

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila (The MET Manila, Philippines)

The Yuchengco Museum Collection (Manila, Philippines)

The Omer M. Koc Collection (Istanbul, Turkey & London, UK)

The Francis J. Greenburger Collection (New York City, USA)