Renato Balute, Jr. (b. 1992) hails from Malabon, Philippines. He majored in Fine Arts-Painting at the University of the East while being an apprentice and working for various companies. In 2016, he decided to become a full-time visual artist and started to join several competitions. Among his awards are Honorable Mention from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Art Competition in 2018 and Grand Prize from University of the East Caloocan Annual Painting Competition in 2015. His works have been exhibited in various group and solo shows. From surrealistic themes and approach, he now incorporates social and cultural ecologies into his work through iconographies and narratives related to the mundane and popular culture.
