Hi there! My name is May Palacpac, a Manila-based visual artist working primarily in modern naïve art and gestural abstraction. Through hand-painted works marked by bold palettes, simplified forms, layered textures, and intuitive mark-making, I explore themes of joy, memory, playfulness, tenderness, and the quiet beauty of ordinary life.
Guided by a sense of child-like wonder, my paintings balance whimsy with emotional depth, creating spaces that feel both nostalgic and hopeful.
Before pursuing visual art professionally, I spent fifteen years as a performer before eventually building a career in writing. Although I had loved drawing since childhood, I only began painting seriously shortly before the pandemic. What began as a personal creative return gradually evolved into a dedicated studio practice rooted in storytelling, emotional honesty, and the celebration of everyday beauty.
My artistic life is deeply intertwined with the creative environment of my home. I am married to a musician in full-time ministry, and our three sons are all immersed in the arts – two pursuing careers in dance and one a young artist and musician himself.
Surrounded daily by music, movement, and imagination, I continue to create work that reflects softness, humanity, and wonder.
Why Collect My Work
Every piece I create is traditionally painted by hand. I am deeply drawn to the tactile nature of physical materials: the movement of paint, visible brushwork, imperfect edges, and the emotional presence that develops organically within a painting. My work is less concerned with precision and more interested in feeling, memory, atmosphere, and emotional resonance.
Collectors are drawn to my paintings for their warmth, sincerity, playful visual language, and layered emotional quality. While my work carries a sense of innocence and simplicity, it also explores quieter themes of faith, endurance, tenderness, longing, and hope.
I especially value working with collectors who trust my creative process and allow me the freedom to interpret concepts through my own visual language and artistic sensibilities. Some of the most meaningful works emerge through openness, intuition, and collaboration built on trust.
What I Offer
- Original Hand-Painted Works
- Commissioned Paintings
- Collector Commissions
- Traditional Paintings for Books & Publications
- Select Creative Collaborations
- Art Licensing for Existing Works
- Workshops for Children & Families
If you are interested in acquiring a work, discussing a commission, or exploring a collaboration, I would be happy to connect.
Let’s Connect!
If you think we’d be a good fit, I’d love to hear from you! You can email me at maypalstories@gmail.com. Let’s create something meaningful together.
Follow me on Instagram:
@maypal_art
May Palacpac, Storyteller 