IJWBAA [eej-wah] is a Filipino digital artist and the first Filipino recognized in Techspressionism. As a neologist and the originator of Decolonial Minimalism —an art movement that reclaims minimalism through ancestral memory and cultural reawakening—he stands at the intersection of art and technology. His theories on Decolonial Minimalism are cited in recent academic research (2025) and indexed in Google Scholar alongside foundational minimalist discourse. His work, which frequently explores the boundaries of new media, earned a spot on the shortlist for the Hiiibrand Design and Illustration Awards 2024. Furthermore, his contributions to the field of computer art have been published on Academia.edu. He was selected by David Quiles Guilló, Director of The Wrong, to participate in the 7th Edition of The Wrong Biennale—described by The New York Times as the digital world's answer to Venice Biennale—with Prayers to Ai, further cementing his standing in the international digital art community. His collected works, compiled in two volumes of I Just Wannabe an Artist, have been recognized, officially archived, cataloged, and made available in the collections of the Gallerie degli Uffizi, Museo Reina Sofía, the National Museum of the Philippines, Getty Research Institute, and other prominent cultural institutions worldwide. The two volumes are cataloged in WorldCat under OCLC Numbers 1530632939(Book 1) and 1530636063(Book 2).

The Digital Artist Digest by IJWBAA Year 2026 | Monthly Insights into Digital Artistry

The Digital Artist Digest is a convenient summary that offers a straightforward glimpse into a digital artist's journey over the past 30 days. It presents a concise narrative, capturing the essence of IJWBAA creative endeavors in an easily digestible format. With brevity as its strength, The Digital Artist Digest provides a condensed overview, highlighting the key moments and achievements of IJWBAA's recent artistic exploration. It serves as a convenient resource for anyone seeking a quick and informative update on the digital artist's story.

Year 2026

In April 2026, the New York Public Library confirmed the selection of my artworks for inclusion in their Volume 9 zine.

In March 2026, I stepped back from the local art scene after being blocked by many galleries and art fairs on Instagram, disengaging from their networks of collectors and organizers. At the same time, Google Scholar recognized my work by linking my paper to David Raskin’s Parts catalogue, affirming its scholarly connection to a renowned art historian. Museo Reina Sofia also sent certificates confirming my books’ inclusion in their collection. I’m grateful that Tessa, curator of the Postcard Art Exhibit at The Hague, confirmed receipt of my postcard. I shared an AI-generated photo of Victorio Edades and myself on social media, and I’ve now been included in Grokopedia.

In February 2026, the envelope I sent to The Hague was unexpectedly returned due to incorrect address details, but I corrected the information and resent it, hoping it arrives without further issue. In 2025, three of my digital print artworks under the “Family” theme were sold at the Incognito Art Show, which led to another invitation to participate. Although several art galleries and some local art fairs have blocked me on Instagram, my artwork “Ibaloy” was exhibited at Solarpunk Exhibition 2.0 at Maloop Garden in Phnom Penh alongside internationally curated artists, and I have also been featured on Grokipedia and Artmajeur.

In January 2026, I began the year with the inaugural group exhibition at SikoraArts in New York, completed writing the full set of descriptions for the founding works of Decolonial Minimalism on my website, and started drafting the pages for the forthcoming book, all while continuing CBT, health medications, and lifestyle changes as part of my ongoing journey of care and resilience...

SO, WHAT'S NEXT?

Hi, I'm Pao aka IJWBAA. I'm a digital artist, painter, and a book author from the Philippines. If you enjoyed reading this you might like to read also:

• The Digital Artist Digest

• Poems by IJWBAA

• Quotes from a Wannabe Artist

• Notes to Self

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Thank you.