Bjorn Calleja (b. 1981, Manila, Philippines) is a contemporary artist from the Philippines whose imaginative and surreal works challenges conventional perceptions of reality by presenting familiar forms in exaggerated, almost grotesque styles. In doing so, Calleja invites reflection on identity, existence, and the absurdities of life. Calleja’s background in painting, drawing, sculpture, animation and installation art has given him a diverse skill set that he uses to create his distinctive works. His art is often infused with humor and playfulness, yet beneath the surface lie deeper philosophical and social undertones that provoke thought and introspection. The central focus of Calleja’s work is the human condition. He explores themes of identity, perception, and the absurdity of existence by distorting the human form in surreal, yet strangely familiar ways. Calleja frequently plays with scale and proportion, using exaggerated forms to highlight the tension between the grotesque and the ordinary. His style is deeply influenced by contemporary surrealism and incorporates elements of caricature and cartoon aesthetics. Calleja’s art is more than just an exercise in surrealism; it is also a form of social commentary. The playful and exaggerated elements in his work often carry a critique of modern life, reflecting on how individuals navigate societal expectations and the internal conflicts that arise from these pressures making the invisible visible, encouraging a reconsideration of what is taken for granted in everyday life. Calleja offers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on modern life, challenging us to look deeper and engage more meaningfully with the world around us.
Solo exhibitions: Anatomy of the Ordinary; West Gallery (2025), Alone with Everybody; Tang Contemporary Art (Beijing Dangdai) (2024), 369; West Gallery (2023), Thus and So; Leixiang Gallery (Art Taipei) (2023) The Triumph of Ignorance; ArtInformal (2023); Antonyms of Meaning; West Gallery (2022), Unknown Unknowns; ArtFair Philippines/ Projects (2022), The Ennead; Secret Fresh Gallery (2018); Acme; West Gallery (2018); Postcolonial Rubbish; Pablo Gallery (2017); Self-Portrait as a Hamburger; Secret Fresh Gallery (2016); There is no Solution because there is no Problem; Underground Gallery (2016); Confessions of an Almost Artist; West Gallery (2013); Bubblegum Stories; Secret Fresh Gallery (2012); Eat my Daddy; The Crucible Gallery (2012); Some Failed Attempts in Creating a Good Image for Painting; West Gallery (2011); The Color Bringer; Secret Fresh Gallery (2011); Fear Made me Do This; Lost Projects (2011).
Calleja’s work has been included in various group exhibitions both local and international, published in Toy Art 2.0 (2014), Philippines: Inter Tropical Convergence Zone Contemporary Artists from the Philippines Imago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection (2014), Calleja was shortlisted in the 2023 Sovereign Asian Art Prize and his animations have been featured in a number of NFT exhibitions including “NFTs + The Ever-Evolving World of Art” at Art Basel in Hong Kong (2022), “Tez Art Mtl” in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2022) and “Living System: An NFT Show” at SEA Focus in Singapore (2023). Bjorn Calleja also the created the Stoopid Avatar Project (2021), a satirical PFP project minted on the Tezos blockchain. Calleja completed an art residency in France at Port Tonic Art Center (2025) and was part of the exhibition, “Connecting Borders: A Collection of Southeast Asian Art” at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (2025).
Solo exhibitions: Anatomy of the Ordinary; West Gallery (2025), Alone with Everybody; Tang Contemporary Art (Beijing Dangdai) (2024), 369; West Gallery (2023), Thus and So; Leixiang Gallery (Art Taipei) (2023) The Triumph of Ignorance; ArtInformal (2023); Antonyms of Meaning; West Gallery (2022), Unknown Unknowns; ArtFair Philippines/ Projects (2022), The Ennead; Secret Fresh Gallery (2018); Acme; West Gallery (2018); Postcolonial Rubbish; Pablo Gallery (2017); Self-Portrait as a Hamburger; Secret Fresh Gallery (2016); There is no Solution because there is no Problem; Underground Gallery (2016); Confessions of an Almost Artist; West Gallery (2013); Bubblegum Stories; Secret Fresh Gallery (2012); Eat my Daddy; The Crucible Gallery (2012); Some Failed Attempts in Creating a Good Image for Painting; West Gallery (2011); The Color Bringer; Secret Fresh Gallery (2011); Fear Made me Do This; Lost Projects (2011).
Calleja’s work has been included in various group exhibitions both local and international, published in Toy Art 2.0 (2014), Philippines: Inter Tropical Convergence Zone Contemporary Artists from the Philippines Imago Mundi - Luciano Benetton Collection (2014), Calleja was shortlisted in the 2023 Sovereign Asian Art Prize and his animations have been featured in a number of NFT exhibitions including “NFTs + The Ever-Evolving World of Art” at Art Basel in Hong Kong (2022), “Tez Art Mtl” in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2022) and “Living System: An NFT Show” at SEA Focus in Singapore (2023). Bjorn Calleja also the created the Stoopid Avatar Project (2021), a satirical PFP project minted on the Tezos blockchain. Calleja completed an art residency in France at Port Tonic Art Center (2025) and was part of the exhibition, “Connecting Borders: A Collection of Southeast Asian Art” at the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (2025).
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