Silke Lapina is a German-Filipino visual artist based in Germany and Manila.

Remixing mysticism with MTV-era vibrancy, her art is in communion with the ecstasy of saints, the vespers of the monastics, and the rapture of a immaculately-timed needle drop.

Raised with a Filipino-Catholic and Masonic upbringing, Lapina is part of the lineage of the diaspora locating their joint heritage in art. Her work explores the question of what spirituality means in a secularized modern society. As such, she creates contemporary sacred objects, conceiving of spaces where religious symbols converge with pop iconography.

As a multimedia artist, her practice encompasses large-scale photography printed on textiles, gilded canvases, hand-engraved mirrors, ritual performances, transmedia narrative, and immersive and interactive spatial/light installations.

Her entire process serves as a form of extended prayer, drawing upon various meditation techniques and contemplative exercises. This is deeply rooted from her long-standing meditation discipline and numerous stays in monasteries.

While receiving a B.A. in Culture- and Social Anthropology at the University of Vienna and a M.A. in Religion and Culture at the Humboldt University Berlin, Lapina also worked internationally as a photographer in music and fashion.

Lapina is a recipient of the Ateneo Art Awards – Fernando Zóbel Prizes for Visual Art 2025, with an accompanying exhibition at the Ateneo Art Gallery, Manila.

Education

2022 Master Religion and Culture, Humboldt University Berlin

2019 Bachelor Culture- and Socialanthropology, University of Vienna

Award

2025 Ateneo Art Award – Fernando Zóbel Prizes for Visual Art

Residencies

Upcoming – 2026 Project Space Pilipinas, Residency Grant (Lucban, Philippines)

Upcoming – 2027 La Trobe Art Institute, Residency Grant (Bendigo, Australia)

Solo Exhibitions

2025 Bakit Pa. Edoweird, Manila

2025 JESUS. Gravity Art Space, Manila

2022 Urban Prayers. Off Space, Berlin

2021 Holy Hands. Ibn Rushd – Goethe Mosque, Berlin

2020 99 HOPES. PremArts, Berlin

2019 ALLES LICHT (OHNE ENDE LIEBE). RAP Store, Vienna

2018 You Are The Light. REM Art Space, Vienna

2016 #SPREADTHELOVE. Hamburg

Commissioned Projects

2024 Kumain Ka Na Papaluin Kita (Metropolitan Museum of Manila)

2023 Holy Hands. Kirche auf der Bundesgartenschau, Mannheim

2019 You+I=Light, Lightinstallation. ADIDAS Future Studio, Berlin

Artist Book

līlā. Silke Lapina 2014-2018 (2018)

Group Exhibitions

2025

A little bit of Everything, Everything in a Little Bit. Kalawakan Spacetime, Manila

The No Name Show 5.0. Gravity Art Space, Manila

Ateneo Art Awards – Fernando Zóbel Prizes for Visual Art, Ateneo Art Gallery, Manila

Greatest Hits. Finale Art File, Manila

(your name here). Modeka / Art Fair Philippines, Manila

Intersections Art Summit Philippines x Thailand. Gravity Art Space, Bangkok

2024

The No Name Show 4.0. Gravity Art Space, Manila

Transnationalities: The Anthropology of Migration, hosted by Green Papaya (Fellow 2024). Artist Talk together with Lizza May David, Silke Lapina and Jasmin Werner moderated by Patrick D. Flores. DAAD Gallery, Berlin

2023

Silke Lapina x Dennis Fechner, Leuven/Belgium

Heartfix. Ph0n0l0gues, Berlin

2022

JESUS. lebefrauu x qvartr Gallery, Hamburg

2021

RESILIENZ. EightRooms Gallery, Berlin

Open Atelier. Napoleon Komplex, Berlin

2019

Daughters of Zelophehad. Ésskizziert x Kitchen Guerilla, Hamburg

You+I=Light, Lightinstallation. ADIDAS Future Studio, Berlin

2018