A guided walkthrough of Art Fair Philippines 2026, highlighting must-see galleries, artists, and installations.

Words by Gerie Marie Consolacion
Photos courtesy of Martina Reyes and Mian Centeno
February 09, 2026

The biggest art fair in the country has officially concluded, celebrating and spotlighting Filipino talent across every corner. Art Fair Philippines took place at Circuit Corporate Center One, Makati City, from February 6 to February 8, transforming the venue into a vibrant hub of creativity.

From floor to floor, visitors discovered a rich mix of exhibitions, lively bars, and curated food galleries, making the fair not just a showcase of visual art but a destination for a full weekend experience.

The 5th Floor

Unlike most art fairs, Art Fair Philippines 2026 didn’t begin on the ground or main floor, but on the fifth floor—a floor designed to meet every visitor’s needs, from reception and publications to bag deposits and even on-site medical services.

Yet the space was far from ordinary. Visitors were first greeted by the work of Ampparito, whose installation transforms death from an abstract certainty into something physically navigable. Esperanza de Vida compresses an entire lifetime into a single week, filling the space with handwritten calendars that count each day until 2099—the estimated outer edge of our lives. Walking through the installation, time becomes tangible, intimate, and unavoidable, prompting a quiet reckoning with mortality not as a distant idea, but as a shared, finite present.

This floor also featured the LTD Café, alongside a curated selection of booths including Art Work, For Keeps, Tahanan Pottery, and the Vibal Foundation, as well as dedicated spaces for the fair’s sponsors and partners. And yes—attendees could still walk away with a complimentary copy of the magazine of their choice.

The 6th Floor

One floor down, the atmosphere shifted from contemplative to playful, with a rich diversity of projects and artists. Ambie Abaño, master printmaker, explored life and death through traditional woodcuts expanded into sculptural and installation forms—a testament to decades of practice and teaching.

Brenda Fajardo reimagined tarot cards with folk-inspired imagery, using them not for prophecy, but as a critical lens to examine power, justice, and social realities. Ged Unson Merino turned mosquito nets into meditations on migration, belonging, and memory, while Imelda Cajipe

Endaya blended formal innovation and activist engagement to reflect on Filipino identity and social issues.

Visitors were also drawn to Max Balatbat’s KAPILYA, which transforms salvaged materials into reflections on faith and everyday Filipino practices, embracing the philosophy of “walang mali.” Romeo Tabuena fused Philippine and Mexican influences into nostalgic, hybrid forms, and Tahanan Co.’s Narito, Naroon explored diaspora identities through objects and memory.

The floor’s highlights also included Solomon Saprid’s intimate figure sketches and welded metal sculptures, as well as Jon and Tessy Pettyjohn’s collaborative Intersect, a forest of ceramic columns that celebrates both contrast and harmony in their shared vision.

Animated storytelling also had a place here: TRNZ and Fleet Studios’ The Keeper offered a gentle meditation on unnoticed moments amid society’s obsession with success and perfection.

The Exhibitors’ Floor: The 7th Floor

The seventh floor brought together ten exhibitors showcasing both emerging and established talents. 125 Projects highlighted curator-led support for young artists across the Philippines and Asia Pacific, while Ames Yavuz and Art Agenda presented socially engaged and globally minded works.

Avellana Art Gallery honored local culture across generations, Cartellino combined exhibitions with a digest and shop to engage the public, and Cayón connected global and local narratives through mid-century and contemporary art.

Visitors also explored works from Leon Gallery, SILVERLENS, Tarzeer Pictures, and Vin Gallery, moving seamlessly between local and international perspectives.

The 8th Floor

The eighth floor offered a feast for the eyes. Art Lounge Manila, Art Underground, Caiyun Art, and CCP x Scarlet Box showcased familiar social-media-famous pieces, while CORE Contemporary Art introduced Malaysian art and Fotomoto PH celebrated Filipino photography.

The floor also presented elegant works from Gajah Gallery and Galerie Stephanie, cultural narratives from Gallery Kogure, and global dialogues through Kaida Contemporary, Modeka Art, Qube Gallery, and Tomura Lee. Visitors experienced color and contemporary dialogue at White Walls Gallery, YOD Gallery, and Ysobel Art Gallery, while PROTEGERI offered rare glimpses of the vinta from the Sulu and Zamboanga archipelagos.

The 9th floor

The ninth floor was a hub of Philippine art and memorabilia, featuring Archivo 1984, Art Cube Gallery, and regional showcases like Art for Space. Southeast Asian perspectives were present through Artemis Art, while galleries such as Boston Art Gallery, The Columns Gallery, The Crucible Gallery, Der-Horng Art Gallery, and Kawata Gallery offered diverse contemporary work.

Visitors took pride in the Orange Project from Negros, engage with Parallel+, and explore the rich heritage of Pinto Art Museum and Arboretum, while galleries like ROSE STUDIO ART GALLERY, SHUKADO + SCENA, and Village Art Gallery rounded out the floor. Digital innovation was represented by TLYR Collective, proving that art continues to evolve with technology.

The 11th Floor

Before concluding the tour, the eleventh floor invited visitors to pause and breathe. Museo Trece showcased the evolving language of Philippine art, while National Artist Kidlat Tahimik offered a personal connection to the country’s creative lineage.

This floor also hosted Art Fair Talks at Casa Luisa, along with cafes and restaurants where attendees could reflect, rest, and savor the weekend. After exploring six floors, visitors left feeling both relaxed and inspired, reminded of the beauty and vitality of Philippine art.

Make your weekend be artsy!

Art Fair Philippines 2026 was more than an exhibition—it was a celebration of creativity, connection, and the enduring spirit of Filipino artists. From immersive installations to intimate sketches, from bold colors to delicate craftsmanship, the fair left visitors with more than memories; it left feelings, reflections, and perhaps even a renewed appreciation for the artistry that surrounds us.

Art is everywhere, just like love. And after this weekend, its energy lingers, inviting us to carry it forward until the next encounter with Filipino creativity.

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