Pugad ni Art merges the natural beauty of the Cordilleras with a space that is becoming a haven for creatives.
Pugad ni Art is a privately funded, independent art studio giving local artists spaces to paint, draw, and display their work. It is located at the borders of Baguio City and La Trinidad at Sitio Atol, Pinsao Kalkalan Road, Puguis, La Trinidad.
“Essentially, [it] is to develop and then foster, not just friendship, but at the same time, to connect ties within art and culture. So, that’s the concept of the project,” Abe Orobia, creative consultant to Pugad ni Art Studio, explained.
Visual artist, Art Lozano, started Pugad ni Art in 2016, first as a project team and an open artist community focusing on cultural preservation and promoting local contemporary and indigenous art. The entire movement was named “Pugad” (nest) from the Filipino language.
“It was a jest and an insult by some people who don’t believe in Lozano. It was a literal treehouse, a barong-barong, so it looked like, in a sense, a nest,” Orobia said.
Lozano proudly kept the name Pugad ni Art Studio. Today, the community has grown into a family-like network watching over young artists.
Pugad ni Art formally opened in 2022, completely transforming that original ‘nest’ concept into a five-story gallery, event space, and interactive studio for artists.
“It started really small, and it evolved and is continuously adding more features,” Orobia explained Lozano traded his own artworks for building supplies, fixtures, and labor to fund the construction.
The studio features two gallery floors exhibiting works that are continuously being sent to the space.
The five-story building is designed to serve both art lovers and the community, including private guest rooms and lofts on all floors. The ground floor is dedicated to hosting main programs and events, while the second floor features a common area where the team and visitors gather to share ideas.
The third floor includes indoor workshop rooms for teaching artistic techniques, mediums, and history to the next generation of painters. It also opens up to a wide rooftop deck decorated with potted plants and flowers, offering a scenic mountain view.
The rest of the building is designated for art, with most areas displaying private collections and permanent exhibitions. This leads up to the fifth floor, which serves as the main gallery for rotating art shows.
“Most of the time, [events are] at the very top, because you’ll get to see the sunset. Me, as an artist, I use symbolism—symbolism through naturescapes. So, it has a significant value to me because I get to see the sunset, the sunrise, and the movement of the clouds. The changes of weather over time—suddenly it’s raining, then the clouds are moving in and covering the whole area; it’s foggy. Then the sun rises. These are reflections on life. That’s good for an artist, because as an artist, you don’t only paint—you look for inspiration outside,” Orobia stated.
In expanding its amenities, the studio is currently adding an in-house café where guests can purchase beverages.
“I see the improvement. It’s continuously building. And then, of course, we have a community. What will you do with a large space if you aren’t giving back to the community? So, I think that’s the strength of Pugad ni Art Studio. It’s a safe haven,” said Orobia.
Inside the studio, guests are encouraged to experience and take in the gallery rooms at their own pace.
Today, the studio hosts the “Mankakait Friendship International Art and Cultural Exchange,” an exhibition of contemporary paintings and sculptures. The show features Cordilleran artists including Ann Theresa Bolos, Apple Abes, Art Alex Lozano, Au Abapo, Bets Beltran, and Brenda Subido, as well as Lozano and Orobia themselves.
International participants include Tao Linh, Dinh Phong, Binh Nhuong Ha, Nguyen Thuy Duong, Tao Huong, Can Manh Tuong, Vu Bach Lien, Dang Tuan, and Le Thi Thanh from Vietnam; Prajak Supantee from Thailand; Benedikt Valdres from Austria; Dorie Reyes Polo from Germany; Natalia Peraita Jimenez, Cristina Gonzalez Martin, and Ainhoa Del Carre from Spain; Phaem Nantasuk Ko from Singapore; and Allen Tan, Ana Lyn Seva, and Danielle Lin from Malaysia.
The exhibit runs until the end of June 2026. By Stesha Lev Tamangen, UC Intern
