Art Fair Philippines’ bold move from the Link carpark to Ayala Triangle for 2025 | Lifestyle.INQ
Art Fair Philippines 2022
Ayala Triangle during the 2022 hybrid edition of Art Fair Philippines. Photo from Art Fair Philippines

For 2025, the fair boasts an abundance of visual and multi-sensorial treats for everyone.


 

Lengthening days signal the end of amihan and for Manila’s creative community, the start of art fair season—signaled by Art Fair Philippines. 

While the fair has traditionally taken place at the Link Carpark near Glorietta, Makati, for 2025, it moves to a new location at the Ayala Triangles from 21 to 23, from 10am. to 9 p.m. Tickets can be bought on the days themselves or in advance on their website

“Art Fair Philippines gives a taste of the landscape,” organizer Lisa Ongpin-Periquet explains. The venue change is just one of the many changes this year, reflecting exciting shifts in the Philippine art scene. 

For over a decade, Art Fair Philippines has been helmed by Ongpin-Periquet, Trickie Lopa, and Dindin Araneta, hosting several special exhibitions, installations, events, talks, and even workshops for budding enthusiasts and die-hard collectors.

READ: 18 Chinese-Filipino artists shaping contemporary art this Year of the Snake

 

The new location

Since the fair’s first iteration in 2013, the organizers have been transforming the Link carpark into the country’s most anticipated art destination. Moving to Ayala Triangle Gardens this year introduces a new way of experiencing art outside the confines of the traditional, indoor gallery space. 

Galleries are set to install in the main tented area, while special exhibitions and talks will take place across the surrounding areas. 

Ayala Triangle stock exchange
The entrance to Ayala Triangle Ayala Avenue from the old stock exchange building. Photo from Art Fair Philippines

 

Special exhibitions and interventions 

Every year, the fair invites artists from the Philippines and all over the globe to mount special exhibitions in the project section. This year it will be designed by duo Rita Nazareno and Gabby Lichauco of Nazareno/Lichauco. For Art Fair Philippines 2025, featured artists in the special projects section include Manny Garibay, Manuel Ocampo, Ryan Rubio, Isaiah Cacnio, Chia Amisola, Jezzel Wee, and Goldie Poblador.

Manny Garibay
Manny Garibay in the studio. Photo from Art Fair Philippines

READ: The decline of hype and rise of substance: Manila art charges into 2025

 

Special exhibitions of Art Fair Philippines 2025 

There will be an emphasis on innovation and experimentation within the constraints of the fine arts. Ceramicist Jezzel Wee’s work blurs the line between functional objects and fine art. For over half a year, Wee produced various ceramic objects that visitors can touch, hold, and shake for the special exhibit, “Pagbulong.” 

“We encourage people to use functional ware every day to experience the work,” explains Wee. “It’s like you have a connection with the maker.” 

Jezzel Wee
Jezzel Wee in the studio. Photo from of Art Fair Philippines

While Wee brings an element of tactility to Art Fair Philippines 2025, glass artist Goldie Poblador introduces scent. Her special exhibit, “The Rise of Medusa,” focuses on the myth of Magwayan, told through a multi-sensory experience. “I wanted to work with scent because our scent is most related to our memories and emotions,” Poblador says. For “The Rise of Medusa,” Poblador taps creative experts across a variety of disciplines, such as curator Erwin Romulo, perfumer M. Dougherty, and composer Ben Richter. 

Goldie Poblador
Goldie Poblador in the studio. Photo from Art Fair Philippines

Art Fair Philippines 2025 will stage art interventions and exhibits around Makati City for their annual “10 Days of Art” from Feb.14 to 23, 2025. Artists for 10 Days of Art include SpY Studio, Neil Oshima and FOTOMOTO, TLYR Collective, Kim Borja, ESL Chen, Derek Tumala, and Olivia D’Aboville. 

 

Participating art galleries

As always, Art Fair Philippines gathers the best among the country’s galleries and welcomes more exhibitors from all over the world. Among the 48 participating galleries are Philippines-based Archivo 1984 Gallery, Art Cube Gallery, Art for Space, Art Lounge Manila, Art Underground, Art Verité Gallery, Avellana Art Gallery, Boston Art Gallery, Canvas, Cartellino, Fine-Arts Manila/Zimmermann-Krotochwill, FotoMotoPH, Galeria Paloma, Galerie Stephanie, J Studio, Kaida Contemporary, León Gallery, Lopez Museum, Metro Gallery, Modeka Art, MONO8, Orange Project, Paseo Art Gallery, Pintô Art Museum and Arboretum, Qube Gallery, Secret Fresh, Silverlens Galleries, Tarzeer Pictures, TLYR Collective, Triangulum, Village Art Gallery, White Walls Gallery, and Ysobel Art Gallery. 

International galleries making an appearance include Ames Yavuz (Australia), Art Agenda (Singapore), Artemis Art (Malaysia), Cayón (Spain), Core Contemporary (Malaysia), Gajah Gallery (Singapore and Indonesia), Gallery Kogure (Japan), Kobayashi Gallery (Japan), Parallel + (Hong Kong), Shukado+Scena (Japan), The Columns Gallery (South Korea), TomuraLee (Japan), Vin Gallery (Vietnam), and YOD Gallery (Japan). 

READ: Frivolity is out, discourse is in at Singapore’s S.E.A. Focus 2025

 

Art talks and film screenings

This year, Art Fair Philippines partners with the Ateneo Art Gallery for a series of art talks on the 6th floor of the Executive Center, Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower 2. The organizers will also screen films such as, “Kono Basho” dir. by Jaime Pacena II, and “The F.A.T. Boys!! Episode: Each One Teach One” dir. by Drew Milo on the 8th floor at the Executive Center. 

Isaiah Cacnio
10 Days of Art installation by Isaiah Cacnio. Photo from Art Fair Philippines

 

How to get around

This year’s fair will have two entrances to Ayala Triangle Gardens—one on Ayala Avenue and the other on Makati Avenue. The multiple entrances are meant to ease the flow of crowds at the event. Tickets are now available for purchase on the Art Fair Philippines website.

Art Fair Philippines 2025
Map of Ayala Triangle during Art Fair Philippines 2025. Photo by Madeleine O. Teh, reference from Art Fair Philippines

For those bringing their cars, there are several nearby parking options: 

  • Ayala Triangle Gardens Tower
  • The Link Carpark – 10-minute walk 
  • Gabriela Silang Parking – 4-minute walk
  • Paseo Center Parking – 4-minute walk 
  • Valero Carpark 2 – 6-minute walk 
  • Greenbelt 5 Parking – 18-minute walk
  • Glorietta 3 Basement Parking – 11-minute walk 
  • Rustan’s Steel Parking – 10-minute walk

 

Visitors can also explore restaurants and dining options in Ayala Triangle Gardens and the Shops at Ayala Triangle. Salcedo Village, known for quirky coffee shops and Art in the Park in March, is a five-minute walk through the Ayala Triangle underpass. A fifteen-minute walk from the venue is Legaspi Village, home to even more cozy food haunts. 

This year’s fair will boast an abundance of visual and multi-sensorial treats for everyone. Don’t forget to bring a bottle of water, some sunscreen, and an appetite for art. 

Art Fair Philippines 2025 takes place on Feb. 21 to 23 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. 

Tickets are now available for advance purchase online, or at the reception areas on the days of the fair.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

MOST VIEWED STORIES

FROM THE NICHE TITLES