Ezekiel Fajardo is a Filipino painter known for his black-and-white works that explore memory, emotion, and the quiet moments of everyday life. Using recurring symbols like balloons, envelopes, and familiar objects, his paintings reflect on connection, distance, and the small but meaningful things people carry or let go of.

His balloon imagery began with a childhood memory—tying balloons to himself and pretending he could fly. Over time, it evolved into a deeper language: the idea that people give us “balloons: in life—opportunities, love, responsibilities—and that letting go of a balloon to send something meaningful often comes with a cost. Each object he paints, from a paper boat to a wrapped bento, represents something fragile, personal, or important being sent out into the world.

Since 2022, Fajardo has held three solo exhibitions and joined group shows in spaces like Art in the Park, Manila Art, and the most recently, Art Fair Philippines 2025—one of the biggest art fairs in the country. In the same year, he represented the Philippines in Maison & Object Paris, showcasing his work as part of the national pavilion.

Fajardo doesn’t try to impress with complexity. His goal is to create space for pause and reflection. He hopes viewers find something familiar in his work—something that makes them stop, feel and maybe remember.