Pita Santos (also known as Pitahpat) is a queer Filipino illustrator, graphic designer, and creative facilitator based in Manchester. Their multidisciplinary practice blends analogue and digital methods to create vibrant, identity-driven work.

They co-founded Caterpillar Press, a risograph studio at PINK in Stockport, providing accessible print services and creative workshops. Pita also co-founded Studio Haluhalo, a multidisciplinary studio celebrating Filipino culture through publication design, product photography, and collaborative projects. Pita is HappeningInMCR’s graphic designer, where they create and update graphics for their social media and marketing, helping to promote local art events and connect with Manchester’s creative community. 

Pita’s work aims to amplify underrepresented voices, create inclusive creative spaces, and bridge cultural divides through illustration, zine-making, and collaborative publishing.

Exhibitions

August 2025 - ‘I Will Never Be Finished Removing All These Faces’ SEESAW, Manchester
July 2025 - ‘Song Books’ SHOP, Preston
December 2024 - ‘Queer World-Building’ SEESAW Space, Manchester 
March 2024 - ‘Memoir’ Group Show - Underbank Studios 
December 2023 - ‘Reminisce’ Group Show - Didsbury Parsonage
December 2023 - ‘Lost Cat’ Group Show - Sandbar, Manchester
November 2023 - ‘In the Making’ Group Show - Underbank Studios, Stockport 
October 2023 - ‘Keep & Cradle’ Group Show - Underbank Studios, Stockport 
July 2023 - ‘Held’ Group Show - Underbank Studios, Stockport 
March 2023 - ‘IWD’ Group Show - Cloudwater Brewery exhibiting with Underbank Studios residents
January 2023 - ‘Silly Exhibition’ Group Show - The Peer Hat, Manchester
November 2022 - March 2023 – ‘Belonging’ Exhibiting with Underbank Studios residents in the Granada Gallery, HOME Manchester and Stockport War Memorial Art Gallery
January 2022 - ‘Your Landscape - Somewhere Not Here’ IYN Gallery, Osaka, Japan

September 2025 - ‘Jeepney Sign Painting Workshop’ (Studio Haluhalo) - Fuse, Saan1
September 2025 - ‘Collaged Connections’ - Fuse, Saan1
March 2025 - ‘Bookbinding & Junk Journaling’ (Studio Haluhalo) workshop for Falmouth University students, London 
October 2024 - ‘Odd Creatures’ Character illustration workshop - Creative Lab, Salford
July 2024 -  ‘Kapwa - Collaboration in Creative Practices, Industry and Community’ (Studio Haluhalo) Falmouth Univeristy 
September 2024 - November 2024 - ‘Collaged Connections‘ various locations including Creative Lab and Overhere Zine Fest 
March 2024 -  ‘Create, Destroy, Create’ (Studio Haluhalo) workshop for Falmouth University students, Amsterdam 

Features & Talks

2025 - Drawn In (An AOI Meet Up) - Ink & Resilience Talk
2025 - BITS Magazine - FOOD - Featured Artist
2025 - Comics Youth - Arts & Community Talk
2024 - Falmouth University - Introducing Studio Haluhalo

Awards

Arts Council's Develop Your Creative Practice Award  - Comics as Filipino Narrative

November 2025 - Endlesslovecreative, Newcastle (As Caterpillar Press) 
October 2025 - Overhere Zine Fest (As Studio Haluhalo)
October 2025 - Bound Art Book Fair (As Caterpillar Press)
October 2025 - DIY Art Market (As Caterpillar Press)
September 2025 - Endlesslovecreative, Sheffield
September 2025 - Grrrl Zine Fair (As Caterpillar Press)
September 2025 - Pagemasters Zine Fair (As Caterpillar Press)
October 2025 - DIY Art Market (As Caterpillar Press)
September 2025 - Pagemasters Zine Fair (As Caterpillar Press) 
August 2025 - Barnsley Zine Fair (As Caterpillar Press)
July 2025 - Glasgow Zine and Print Fair (As Caterpillar Press) 
June 2025 - Cloudwater Zine and Print Fair  (As Caterpillar Press) 
June 2025 - Stockport Zine and Print Fair, STOCKROOM 
June 2025 - Queer as F*ck X Manchester Queer Art Market (As Caterpillar Press)
May 2025 - Nice1, at the Carlton Club (As Caterpillar Press) 
May 2025 - Queerly Made, SEESAW Space
May 2025 - Strangebrew Takeover (As Caterpillar Press) 
May 2025 - Cheshire Print Fair (As Caterpillar Press) 
September 2024 - Overhere Zine Fest
August 2024 - Kargo Market
August 2024 - Queerlymade Market, SEESAW Space
June 2024 - Queer Art Market, The Proud Place 
June 2024 - Queerly Made Market, Northern Monk
December 2023 - Dabhand Yuletide, PINK Gallery 
August 2023 - Dabhand Art Market, Stockport Produce Hall 
July 2023 - Sparkle Weekend 
June 2023 - Cotton On Affinity Pop Up Art Fair
April 2023 - Weekly Pop Up markets with HappeningInMCR, Lost Cat 
March 2023 - Queer Art Market, Feel Good Club 
January 2023 - market with Underbank Studios residents, Stockport Art Gallery  

Publications, Books and Zines

July 2025 - A Mini Guide to OPM (Original Pinoy Music)
May 2025 - Sketchbook Drawings Volume 1
April 2025 - HOLY MOLA! Why I Love the Ocean Sunfish 
April 2025 - All About Ube! Zine commissioned by Yes Lah
August 2024 - Let’s Learn: PINOY SLANG (2024)
August 2024 - PWET Magazine (Studio Haluhalo) 
February 2024 - Dear Odd Friend 
January 2023 - My Week With a Snail