David, Lizza May

Lizza May David is a Berlin-based visual artist, educator, and cultural organizer. Born in Quezon City, she moved to Germany where she underwent rigorous academic training across premier European institutions. Her multi-layered studio practice spans over two decades, characterized by international exhibitions, decolonial archive research, and community-based institutional advocacy.

In addition to her studio work, David is deeply embedded in cultural governance and mentorship. She serves as a lecturer at Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee and is a newly appointed board member of the Kunstbeirat ifa (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations). From 2020 to 2023, she served on the board of korientation e.V., a postmigrant self-organization centering Asian-German critical perspectives.

Education
2008: Meisterschüler Degree (Class of Prof. Maria Vedder) – Berlin University of the Arts (UdK), Germany

2001–2006: Degree in Video Art & Visual Communication – Berlin University of the Arts (UdK), Germany

1999: Exchange Semester – École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Lyon, France

1996–2001: Degree in Painting & Fine Arts (Class of Prof. Rolf-Gunter Dienst) – Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg, Germany

Selected Major Awards & Grants
2024: KUNSTFONDS_Stipendium – Stiftung Kunstfonds

2022: Neustart Kultur Stipend – Stiftung Kunstfonds

2014–2016: Graduate School Fellowship – Berlin University of the Arts (UdK)

2014: Global Exchange Grant – Berlin Senate Cultural Affairs Department

2013: Exhibition Funding Grant – ifa (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations)

Selected Institutional Exhibitions & Projects
2025: Wiesbaden Biennale: Platz machen! – Wiesbaden, Germany

2025: Close To Home – Savvy Contemporary, Berlin, Germany

2025: Lakbay – Art House, Makati City, Philippines

2024: Forgive us our trespasses – Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), Berlin, Germany

2024: MATRIX II: Women Artists from the Collections – Ateneo Art Gallery, Quezon City, Philippines

2024: Out of the Box 3: Traces of Interest – ifa Gallery, Stuttgart, Germany

2023–2024: Snare for Birds (Collaborative Project Tour) – Ateneo Art Gallery (Manila), Alfredo F. Tadiar Library (La Union), and Ang Panublion Museum (Roxas City), Philippines

2023: Prussian Palaces. Colonial Histories. – Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin, Germany

2022: Die Vibration der Dinge – 15. Triennale Kleinplastik Fellbach, Germany

2020: Bahala Ka [What do I know?] (Solo) – Kunstverein Hildesheim, Germany

2020: Untitled Painting #1- [infinity] (Solo) – 1335MABINI, Manila, Philippines

2019: Motions of this Kind – Brunei Gallery at SOAS, London, UK

2016: Mangrove (Solo) – Galerie Michael Janssen, Berlin, Germany

2014: Artist Unknown (Solo) – Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), Manila

Academic & Lecture Engagements
Since 2023: Faculty Lecturer – Sculpture Department, Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee, Germany

2024: Panelist & Presenter – Tales of the Diasporic Ordinary: Aesthetics, Affects, Archives at Humboldt University Berlin, and Diasporic Transfers at Freie Universität Berlin

2021–2022: Graduate Advisor – School of Fine Arts and Design, Philippine Women's University (PWU), Manila

2021: Workshop Presenter & Panelist – Engaging Colonial Archives Launch (Berlin) and Cinema Resist! (Museum Ludwig, Cologne)

2015: Initiator & Organizer – Salon for Aesthetic Experiments: Tropes in Painting at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW), Berlin