The Artist

Portrait of sculptor David Kaufman in his paint-splattered studio clothing.

“My work is a dialogue between the permanence of stone and the temporal nature of human experience.”

David Kaufman is a visionary Filipino-American artist and entrepreneur whose work explores the profound intersection between industrial materiality and contemporary emotional expression. Born in the Philippines, Kaufman’s intellectual and creative foundation was built at De La Salle University before he moved to the United Kingdom to complete his postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford, attending the prestigious Keble College.

Upon returning to the Philippines, Kaufman established a formidable reputation in the business world by founding several successful enterprises. Most notably, he is the founder of Kaufman Stone Incorporated, which has flourished under his leadership to become the nation’s leading authority in luxury architectural stone. While he practiced his art privately throughout his youth and his early professional years, it was not until 2023 that Kaufman transitioned into the professional art circuit—a debut that has since evolved into a prolific and high-prestige international career.

A defining milestone of his artistic journey is his historic collaboration with the legendary Ramon Orlina, the Father of Filipino Glass Sculpture. Kaufman has worked side-by-side with Orlina on three monumental collaborations—a rare distinction given Orlina’s selective history of partnerships. By joining forces with Orlina, Kaufman enters an exclusive circle of collaborators that includes only a few of the Philippines' most revered figures, such as National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva and National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto BenCab Cabrera. This partnership represents a significant bridge between the heritage of Filipino glass and Kaufman’s innovative approach to stone and form.

Internationally, Kaufman has spent the last three years establishing a significant presence in Madrid, Spain, where he lives and works as a resident artist. His work has been featured in over 50 prestigious public exhibitions across Europe and Asia. In Madrid, he is a recurring figure in the city’s high-end art scene, with frequent exhibitions at Kate Gallery (Kate Contemporary), Gaudi Gallery, Origen Madrid, and Lariot Collective. His global reach is further highlighted by his participation in international art fairs, including ARTMUC in Munich, Germany, and Art Fair Philippines.

In his home country, Kaufman has rapidly become a mainstay of the contemporary art world, showcasing his work in the most esteemed galleries, including Leon Gallery, Altromondo, Boston Gallery, and J Studio. With half a dozen solo exhibitions and approximately 45 group projects to his credit, his work is characterized by a sophisticated mastery of texture and narrative.

Kaufman’s contribution to the Filipino art canon was formally recognized when his work was acquired for the permanent collection of the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo, under the curatorship of Dr. Joven Cuanang. Today, David Kaufman continues to split his time between Manila and Madrid, creating works that bridge his deep expertise in architectural stone with a raw, evocative approach to fine art.

Exhibition List (2023–2026)

2023

  • 6th Ortigas Art Festival at Estancia (July)
  • Tagubtob at Vista Mall, Sta. Rosa (September – October)
  • Naked Streets, solo exhibition at Super Duper Gallery (November 12 – December 6)
  • Rondo at Altro Mondo Creative Space (December 9 – January 13)
  • Alay 26 at Boston Art Gallery (December 9)
  • Salo-Salo Bastedor at J Studio (December 10)

2024

  • Naked Distortion, solo exhibition at Space Encounter Gallery (January 13)
  • Benildean Painter at the College of St. Benilde, DLSU (January 25)
  • Luneta Art Fair (February 3–4)
  • Love in Colors at Senate Exhibit Hall (February 12–22)
  • Masters and Becoming at Galerie Juan, SM MegaMall (May 7–10)
  • Solo art exhibition at Tag 4120, Laguna Drive, Tagaytay (May 18)
  • Padre de Familia at East Wing Atrium Green Hills (June 16 – July 16)
  • Brut Exhibit One, joint show at J Studio, Pasilio La Fuerza, Makati (July 21 – August 3)
  • Brut Collective First Stop Cebu, joint exhibit at Qube, Contemporary Design Centre of Cebu (August 17)
  • Vernissage ARTfair 2024 at Gateway Mall 2, Araneta City, QC (September 26)
  • Endlessness, group show in Spain at Kate Contemporary, Galerie Joaquin, Madrid (November 28 – January 10, 2025)
  • Spin Gallery, Manila (2025)
  • Group show at Pinto Art Museum (December 15)
  • Dagyaw 2024, a benefit group exhibit at Adoro Gallery, Iloilo (December 15 – February 7, 2025)

2025

  • Art Fair Philippines (February 21–23)
  • Drybrush Gallery (March 3–17)
  • Art in the Park, Boston Gallery, and J Studio (March 23)
  • ArtMuc, Munich, Germany (May 2025)
  • UAS Gallery, Uncharted Gestures (May 2–19)
  • Baguio Pugad ni Art, Solo Exhibition (May 2025)
  • Art Space, Makati (June 2025)
  • Ayala Museum Foundation Art Gallery (July 2025)
  • J Studio, Brut Collective (2025)
  • DF Art Agency, Group Exhibition Jakarta, Indonesia (August 2025)
  • Kiti Gallery, Calle Conde Duque, Solo Exhibition Madrid (October 2025)
  • Kapitolyo Art Space, Group Exhibition (October 2025)
  • 928 Gallery Auction (November 2025)
  • Pinto Museum, Group Exhibition (December 2025)
  • Boston Gallery, Group Exhibition (December 2025)
  • No Gallery, Group Exhibition (December 2025)
  • Spaces BGC Solo Exhibition (December 2025)

2026

  • Kiti Conde Duque, Solo Exhibition Madrid (January 2026)
  • Gallery 928 LRI Makati Two Man Show
  • Galeria Origen, Chamberi, Group First show Exhibition Madrid January 2026
  • Leon Gallery, DF Art Agency, Group Exhibition Manila March 5 2026
  • Art in the Park 2026 with Fuse, Kunstwerk, J Studio and Boston Galleries
  • Galeria Origen, Chamberi, Group Exhibition Madrid April 2026 Second show
  • Writers Madrid, Retail Consignment April 2026
  • Vinyl and Vinyl Group Exhibition Manila April 2026
  • Galeria Origen, Chamberi, Group Exhibition Madrid May 2026, 3rd show
  • Orlina x David Kaufman Solo Exhibition Rebirth collaboration, May 2026
  • Norlie Meimban x David Kaufman Ignite Art Exhibit Featuring 60 Artists, June 2026
  • The Fifth Brut Collective, June 08–23
  • Lariot Collective Hangar 13, Madrid, June 2026
  • Ramon Orlina + David Kaufman official collaboration, MOCAF Art Fair, July 2026
  • Altromondo Manila Makati, Aug 2026
  • J Studio Group Show Manila Makati, Aug 2026