Art in the Open: Your Guide to Art Fair Philippines 2025

This 2025, Art Fair Philippines is out in the open! From February 21 to 23, the annual contemporary art event is happening at Makati’s Ayala Triangle Gardens, with 48 exhibitors spread across sections such as Projects, Digital, Talks, Film, and Residencies. Exhibitor tents will take over the park, while Ayala Triangle Towers 1 and 2 will host curated exhibitions. Booths of participating food and beverage brands will be located at the amphitheater, which will also boast digital projections by the fair’s featured artists. Interdisciplinary studio Nazareno/Lichauco was invited to design the ArtFairPH/Projects space and the café.

As in previous editions, the 10 Days of Art public countdown will happen all over the Makati Central Business District starting on February 14, 2025. Conceived in 2017, this initiative is dedicated to highlighting art displays and complimentary gallery exhibits outside the main venue. This year’s public art component is by Derek Tumala and Isaiah Cacnio, who will present A Warm Orange Coloured Liquid at the Tower 1 Fountain and Prismatic Embrace at the Green Wall of the Ayala Triangle Gardens, respectively.

Out of the gallery

“The shift to Ayala Triangle marks a fresh and exciting chapter in Art Fair Philippines’ history, underscoring the fair’s commitment to developing the audiences for Philippine modern and contemporary art, and its mission to make art more accessible and engaging for all,” the fair’s organizers share. Entrances to the fair and reception areas will be at Ayala Avenue and Makati Avenue, with fairgoers encouraged to navigate through all of the event’s sections.

ArtFairPH/Projects is arguably the fair’s highlight, with established and emerging artists showcasing paintings, sculptures, and other visual artworks. Headlining this edition are Manny Garibay, Manuel Ocampo, Jezzel Wee, Ryan Rubio, and Goldie Poblador. Their exhibitions will include explorations of natural and religious themes, with selected pieces using glass, ceramic, and stone. Spanish collective SpY Studio will also exhibit works under the Projects section as a Special Project Partner, with Art Fair Philippines continuing last year’s collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in the Philippines.

Just a walk from the park is Ayala Triangle Tower 2, which will house the fair’s Film and Talks section. Unlike last year’s conversational space for cinephiles, this edition’s Film section brings back special screenings of works by industry luminaries. Kono Basho by award-winning director J Pacena will be the main feature, with a conversation with the cast scheduled thereafter.

A special screening of The F.A.T. Boys!! Episode 1: Each One Teach One series, shot by American director Drew Milo is also scheduled for the film program. This follows two friends, Mr. StarCity (among Art Fair Philippines 2024’s featured artists) and Splashman LV in their travels. 

The talks section will touch on diverse topics, including a panel discussion on collection management from a collector’s point of view. This is in partnership with the international art market knowledge company Larry’s List. Discussions will also center on insights into the featured artists’ practices, contemporary art programming, and the landscape of digital art collecting in the Philippines. Fair organizers say that more topics will be unveiled in the coming weeks, and that fair passes are inclusive of film screenings and talks access.

Introduced in 2023 to provide a focus on digital media and works utilizing computer technology and artificial intelligence, ArtFairPH/Digital remains the youngest section in the fair. This time, artist and technologist Chia Amisola will present KAKAKOMPYUTER MO YAN (That’s what you get for using the computer!), a collaborative exhibition showcasing internet art and the third-world online experience.

Motion graphics artist and engineer Isaiah Cacnio, among last year’s artists of public component A Warm Orange Liquid, returns to the fair under the Digital section. He is recognized for works that “often explore the themes of light, movement, and spatial dynamics,” transforming ordinary spaces into immersive environments.

ArtFairPH/Residencies also continues this year with the same education partner, Ateneo Art Gallery. New to this section is the launch of the Curator’s Grant Program which hopes to open up more possibilities for Filipino artists. The grant is programmed to run for three weeks and aims to introduce selected international curators to the Philippine art scene.

Alongside the fair’s sections will be booths by participating galleries, which consist of previous and first-time collaborators. This year’s galleries are Amez Yavuz, Archivo 1984, Art Agenda, Art Cube Gallery, Art for Space, Art Lounge Manila, Art Underground, Art Verité Gallery, Artemis Art, Avellana Art Gallery, Boston Art Gallery, CANVAS, Cartellino, Cayón, Core Contemporary, FINE-ARTS MANILA / Zimmermann-Kratochwill Graz, Austria, FotoMoto, Gajah Gallery, Galeria Palona, Galerie Stephanie, GALLERY KOGURE, J Studio, Kaida Contemporary, Kobayashi Gallery, León Gallery, Lopez Museum, METRO Gallery, Modeka Art, MONO8, Orange Project, Parallel +, Paseo Art Gallery, Pintô Art Museum and Arboretum, Qube Gallery, Secret Fresh Gallery, SHUKADO+GALLERY SCENA, SILVERLENS, TARZEER PICTURES, The Columns Gallery, TLYR Collective, Tomura Lee, Triangulum, Village Art Gallery, Vin Gallery, White Walls Gallery, YOD Gallery, and YSOBEL Art Gallery.

“While the shift to an outdoor venue marks a new era for the fair, our goal to present an expansive program that aligns with the mission to develop audiences for Philippine modern and contemporary art stays the same,” Art Fair Philippines shares. “We look forward to having you, and we hope you have a great walk in the park!” •

Art Fair Philippines 2025 Art Fair Philippines 2025 is co-presented by AyalaLand, BPI, and Globe. The fair is also sponsored by Don Papa Rum, AyalaLand Premier, and special project partners The Embassy of Spain in the Philippines and Make It Makati. Exhibition Partners include LG Electronics and Rhizome, while Fairmont Raffles Makati and SEDA serve as official hotel partners.

Regular day passes are priced at ₱750. Tickets for students, PWDs, and senior citizens cost ₱500, while tickets for Makati students are at ₱300. Secure your passes online via this link. Tickets will also be available on-site at the reception areas of Makati Avenue and Ayala Avenue.