Raymond Legaspi turns the troubles of our times into biting pop art

“Always Trouble” will open on August 23, 2026 at gallery. sort of.

Karens, politicians, social media chaos and the absurdities of everyday Filipino life are taking over the canvas as social-commentator pop artist Raymond Legaspi returns to Metro Manila with “Always Trouble,” his long-awaited solo exhibition.

Opening August 23, 2026, the show brings together two dozen paintings that capture what it feels like to live in strange, noisy and increasingly amplified times.

Legaspi takes aim at everything from hysterical Karens to feisty politicians, examining how social media feeds and our surroundings can magnify society’s worst tendencies until they become part of daily life.

But “Always Trouble” is hardly a gloomy affair.

With deft humor and tongue firmly in cheek, Legaspi transforms potentially depressing subjects into playful visual commentary, mixing distinctly Filipino elements with current events and pop imagery.

From mad man to painter

Before becoming a full-time artist, Legaspi was an award-winning advertising executive in Makati, working with international agencies including Ogilvy & Mather and J. Walter Thompson.

He eventually left the advertising world for Silay City, Negros Occidental, choosing to devote himself to painting.

The move paid off. Legaspi received the Juror’s Choice award at the Philippine Art Awards and has exhibited at venues including Orange Project, Qube and Ayala Museum.

His works have also found a strong following among collectors in Bacolod, with demand there making his Manila appearances relatively scarce.

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