Art

Why Art Fair PH Moved Out of The Link and Into Ayala Triangle Gardens

The 2025 run of the country’s premier art fair will be staged in a tented venue at the Ayala Triangle Gardens, saying good bye to the parking lot space that has hosted it in the last 11 years

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ayala triangle gardens in makati
Photo from Ayala Triangle Gardens Facebook

On February 21 to 23, the 12th edition of Art Fair Philippines, the country’s premier platform for contemporary Philippine art, will welcome local and international art patrons and enthusiasts — not in its usual location at The Link carpark, but at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.

“It was time for a change, time to embrace something new, which is what we’re always trying to do anyway with every Art Fair,” said Art Fair PH co-founder Trickie Lopa on the choice to move to a new location. “It’s also the idea of moving to the center of the community,” added the fair’s co-founder Lisa Ongpin-Periquet. “We wanted to find a venue that can transform the experience of being in an art fair.”

The Ayala Triangle Gardens’ sprawling landscape of trees and greenery will serve as the backdrop for the fair; no stairs, except if you plan to go up to the programs hosted up in the Ayala Triangle Tower. 

art fair ph 2022 at ayala triangle gardens philippine stock exchange tower
In 2022, Art Fair PH hosted a hybrid setup, which included exhibitions mounted in Philippine Stock Exchange Tower One. Photo from Art Fair PH

Fret not, Art Fair PH co-founder Dindin Araneta assured fairgoers that there will be airconditioning; the event will not be fully open air, but contained inside tents as is customary in international fairs, she told Rolling Stone Philippines. For attendees who may not be as willing to walk the length of the new venue, Araneta said, they are in talks with bamboo bike brand Bambikes, who will ferry around guests in pedicabs to and from the gardens to the tower entrance.

art fair ph 2025 map
Photo from Art Fair PH

Additionally, the venue’s two entrances — one along Ayala Avenue and another along Makati Avenue — will allow for easier and quicker access into the fair,  with walk-in attendees being able to buy tickets on the days of the fair.

New Location, Same Programs

This year’s fair promises to spotlight a variety of artists, ranging from emerging, mid-career, and established figures — according to Ongpin-Periquet. 

Apart from a change in venue, Art Fair PH 2025 sticks with its regular programming consisting of special projects, residencies, and sections dedicated to digital art, photography, and film. Among artists in the Art Fair PH Projects is Manuel Ocampo, who will be presenting a visual investigation of religion in his exhibit, Ideological Mash-Up/Remix. 

artist manuel ocampo
Manuel Ocampo. Photo by Jojo Gloria for Art Fair PH

Best known for her glass blowing artistry, New York-based Filipina artist Goldie Poblador,, with her show The Rise of Medusa, explores the effects of the Verde Island Passage oil spill on the local marine life. Other prominent Filipino artists set to showcase their work at the fair include Jezzel Wee, Ryan Rubio, and Manny Garibay, among others.

Art Fair Philippines 2025 will also feature more digital-based artwork, such as pieces from rising motion graphics artist Isaiah Cacino, and a playful exhibition of Filipino internet art titled Kakakompyuter Mo Yan! curated by multimedia artist Chia Amisola. 

Additionally, this year’s fair includes the lead-up event, 10 Days of Art, which highlights a series of art installations and events around the city. The program will run from February 14 to 23, and will feature showcases from sculptor Briccio Santos’ sculptures “The Sentinels” and OIivia d’Aboville’s onsite installation called “Dandelions,” which features large-scale lit-up flowers made out of PET bottles originally shown in a previous run of the fair.

Since its founding in 2013, Art Fair Philippines has strived to champion both rising and prominent artists in the country’s contemporary art scene. 

Art Fair Philippines tickets, priced at P750, are now available to purchase on their website. They will also be available for walk-in visitors to purchase at either of the two entrances during the fair.

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