Renato Habulan

(b. 1953, Tondo, Manila, Philippines) 

Renato Habulan was born into a working-class family in Sunog Apog, Tondo—recognized as Manila’s first “Smokey Mountain.” Exposed early to urban poverty, he developed a deep commitment to using art as a means to confront injustice and inequality. At the height of Martial Law, he co-founded Kaisahan, a collective of socially engaged artists. Immersing himself in the lives of farmers and laborers, he participated in community theater and cultural work, solidifying his role in the Social Realism movement as documented extensively by art historian Alice Guillermo.

He earned his Fine Arts degree from the University of the East, Manila (1976). He received the Thirteen Artists Award from the Cultural Center of the Philippines (1990), followed by the Gawad CCP sa Sining Biswal and accolades from the Shell and Metrobank painting competitions. The University of the East granted him the Professional Achievement Award (1996), and was inducted into the Watercolorists Hall of Fame at the 10th Kulay sa Tubig Invitational (1999).

Habulan has exhibited internationally, including at the Gwangju Museum, South Korea and the Saint Joseph Institution, Singapore. He co-exhibited at the National University of Singapore with Alfredo Esquillo (2012-2013) and was featured at Art Stage Singapore (2015). His works are held in major collections, including the National Gallery of Singapore and the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum.

Working across oil, watercolor, pen and ink, graphite, and assemblage, Habulan treats medium as secondary to message. His art speaks of labor, dignity, and discipline anchored in form, narrative, and spirit.

Amid the 2020 pandemic, he founded Agos Studio, transitioning his long-running mentorship program online. Beyond his personal practice, Habulan has remained a steadfast educator, continually guiding emerging artists and upholding a vision of art rooted in social consciousness and soulful expression.