Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn Let Their Works “Intersect” at Art Fair Philippines 2026

At Art Fair Philippines 2026, Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn present “Intersect,” which highlights the intersection between their own individual crafts.

Set against the Makati skyline, Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn showcase a forest of ceramic columns in their Art Fair Philippines 2026 exhibit, “Intersect.” In this collection, the couple explores the contrast, similarities, and intersections between their works. “We don’t often get to show our works contrasting like this,” Jon says, looking at the ceramic towers by the window.

During the 2026 Art Fair Philippines’ vernissage, Jon and Tessy sit down for a brief chat with Vogue Philippines to discover more about these intersections.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

In the process of working on this exhibit, what are the differences that you have noticed between each other? 

Jon Pettyjohn: We’re very different. Tessie spends hours and hours. She’s very busisi (meticulous). I can’t even watch her work, like it’s just it makes me nervous. I’d like to think I’m a good craftsman, but I work kind of fast and sloppily.

Do you think that kind of shows up in the final product, those differences?

JP: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I mean, it’s the feminine-masculine thing. It’s a bit of a cliche, really.

I don’t like it that it’s like that, that it looks that way, but male, female, yin, yang. It’s true. What

can we say?

Do you see this exhibit as a culmination of your work together, or is it a new chapter?

JP: I think for me, this is an important exhibit. I mean, to be in this venue, it’s really an honor.

Because so many people can see. I mean, you know, the ceramic art world is a little bit separate from the fine art world. You know what I mean?

In a way, it’s a good thing. I mean, we’re kind of the poor cousins of the painters and sculptors. So, it’s an honor for us to be here. But I also feel that at our age, I mean, to have produced this show, we’re very happy. I mean, it was a lot of work, and it was a lot of stress the last six months. 

How does it feel to see everything come together now?

Tessy Pettyjohn: I mean, yeah, I’m very happy for the show. It’s a big thing to be, you know, seen by so many people. Because when you have a gallery exhibit, you know, you just get a few people to see your works. But since ceramics is, you know, spreading throughout the country, it’s good that people get to appreciate it.

This exhibit is a dialogue between the two of you. I’d like to ask, what is the question that you are asking each other in this exhibit?

JP: I guess, you know, what are our own strengths? What are we good at? What do we do that’s different from each other? I think so. It becomes clearer after, you know, we’ve been working together for almost 50 years.

What would the two of you want people to take away from this exhibit?

TP: You know, the ceramic is an art form. And the people, you know, and for people to recognize it.

JP: It’s an ancient art form. Especially in the Philippines, it’s an ancient art form. It’s important that people realize that this is an indigenous art, working with clay.