Ex-Bacolod street tagger Red Santillan brings his ‘microchip’ creatures to Manila

Microchip Cheep opens September 20, 2026, at gallery. sort of. for three weeks.

Once upon a time, Red Santillan was more likely to be caught spray-painting a random wall in Bacolod City than sitting diligently inside a classroom.

These days, the incorrigible former street tagger has become considerably more respectable—at least by his standards.

Santillan is heading to the capital with Microchip Cheep, a pocket-sized collection of his distinctive brushstroke creatures opening at gallery. sort of. in Quezon City on September 20.

It has been quite the journey from the streets of Bacolod.

As a teenager, Santillan found an artistic outlet with the encouragement of Bacolod art heavyweights Joe Geraldo and Charlie Co, who helped redirect his appetite for graffiti toward something slightly less likely to get him into trouble: painting on canvas.

Santillan eventually took up residence in spare rooms at Geraldo’s sculpture studio outside the city. His output was prodigious. Before long, canvases covered the walls and paintings began piling up.

There was really only one thing left to do: show them.

Under Co’s guidance, Santillan began joining group exhibitions at Orange Project—while naturally still finding his way into graffiti projects around the sprawling Lopue grounds. A solo exhibition at the Negros Museum followed, finally giving his growing collection room to breathe.

Last year, he landed a residency at Tagpuan Art Atelier and has since participated in group exhibitions at Qube Gallery, gallery. sort of., Gallerie G and the Grey Room. He has also been featured at the Ortigas Art Festival and served as a judge at the Sinigayan Festival.

Now, for his third appearance at gallery. sort of., Santillan is shrinking his strange universe into a collection of small works.

Swipe or click arrows to see photos