Identity is rarely a single, static thing; it is a composition—an assembly of heritage, memory, and the deliberate layers we choose to show the world. This week, the art world has found a new definitive voice for this conversation. On 23 January 2026, Filipino-Canadian artist Marigold Santos was named the inaugural winner of the ART SG FUTURES Prize, presented by UBS.
For those watching the rise of “slow craft” and material storytelling, Santos is a revelation. Her practice does not merely observe her history; it constructs a form of “bespoke armour” out of it.
The centerpiece of her winning presentation, shroud transfiguration (1) to (16), features a series of ink works on hand-marbled paper. The figures within these frames are “shrouded”—but these are not veils of mourning. Instead, they represent a state of transformation. Santos, who immigrated from the Philippines to Canada as a child, uses these shrouds to explore the diasporic experience, turning the “precarious in-between” into a position of strength.
What makes her work so visceral is her deep connection to traditional Filipino craft. She draws on the textures of her heritage—from the rhythmic weaving of palm mats to the delicate, labor-intensive harvesting of Piña silk (a textile made from pineapple fibers). These materials are reimagined as protective layers, suggesting that the most powerful armour we possess is the one we weave from our own ancestry.
Beyond the canvas, Santos is also an accomplished tattoo artist, further grounding her work in the concept of permanent, personal symbols. Whether through pigment on paper or ink on skin, her goal remains the same: to create a visual language for a fragmented self.
As we look toward the rest of 2026, Marigold Santos stands as a reminder that heritage is not a weight to be carried, but a material to be mastered. Her win at ART SG is more than just a milestone for an emerging artist; it is a signal that the future of contemporary art lies in the hands of those who can bridge the gap between ancient traditions and the modern self with both determination and grace.
COUTURE TROOPERS MAGAZINE 