Art in the Park At 20
Two decades since its modest beginnings with 12 galleries, Art in the Park returns to Jaime Velasquez Park with a special anniversary showcase
Words Gerie Marie Consolacion
Photos courtesy of Art in the Park
March 04, 2026
Last February 27, the official organizers of Art in the Park, an annual celebration of arts and artists at Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, formally held its media launch at Pablo Bistro.
The gathering offered media partners and participating artists a first glimpse of the works set to be showcased at the fair’s 20th anniversary edition, happening this March 15.
On that day, the local art community will once again return to Jaime Velasquez Park for a milestone celebration—one that has helped redefine how Filipinos encounter and collect art.
Photo from Art in the Park 2025
“It’s always been held here. You and I have never left this park,” says Trickie Lopa, founder of Art in the Park during an exclusive interview with Art+ Magazine at the Media Launch.
What began in 2006 as a modest Saturday project with “12 galleries, 12 plus,” has since grown into one of the country’s most anticipated art fairs—without ever losing sight of its founding mission.
A Hallmark of Affordability
Photo from Art in the Park 2025
“The hallmark of Art in the Park is that it’s an affordable art fair. Everything is capped at 70,000 pesos and below. And it’s really a nice day out in the park,” Lopa says.
That price ceiling—Php 70,000—remains the fair’s defining feature. While major art events can feel daunting, Art in the Park was designed to be welcoming to first-time buyers and seasoned collectors alike.
“It’s a chance for you to explore, go to the different participants. Check out—you’ll surely find something you like at the price point you like,” she explains. “Because even if the cap is 70,000, a lot of the pieces available are far below that.”
For Lopa, the fair has taken on the rhythm of a yearly ritual. “It’s like a holiday. It’s something I look forward to because I always discover artists in Art in the Park.”
55 Exhibitors—and a Waiting List
This year, around 55 exhibitors—galleries, art groups, art schools, and collectives—will fill the park. The number has remained steady, dictated largely by the venue itself.
“We’re limited by the size of the park,” Lopa says. “For the years, there are participants who’ve been around for that long as well. And nobody wants to back out. So, we have a waiting list.”
Even with strong loyalty from long-time exhibitors, the organizers make space for new voices. “We try to inject a new gallery every year. A new art group. We try to inject a few new names every year. But basically, those who have joined us from the start continue.”
Among those that have grown alongside the fair are stalwarts such as Boston Gallery. In its early years, the fair was even staged twice annually. “We used to do it twice a year in the early days,” Lopa recalls—an indication of the demand it generated from the start.
A Special 20th Anniversary Showcase
To mark its milestone year, Art in the Park is mounting a special anniversary exhibit featuring returning headliners—artists who have shaped its history and, in many cases, found their first significant audience there.
“If you look through our website, you’ll see who’s joined us in the past. And they’re all giving works. And they have a special exhibit of their works also,” Lopa says.
This celebratory lineup includes leading figures such as Mark Justiniani, Leeroy New, Marina Cruz, and Bjorn Calleja, among others. In a rare departure from the fair’s usual rules, works in this anniversary section are exempt from the standard price cap.
The organizers are also releasing a limited-edition commemorative portfolio. “Because we’re doing two boxes—two sets of 20 prints. Forty artists in total, separated into two boxes of 20 artists per box. And they’re prints that are going to be signed and editioned,” Lopa explains.
A Launchpad for Artists
By Ayka
Beyond its festive atmosphere, Art in the Park has long served as a launchpad for emerging talent.
“If you ask them, they will tell you—a lot of them, especially those who’ve been part of our special exhibits, got their first break in Art in the Park,” Lopa says. “Art in the Park gave them the courage to actually pursue their practice as artists.”
By balancing established names with younger voices, the fair has created a space where discovery feels organic—where a casual stroll can mark the beginning of a serious collection.
Art for a Cause
By Annatha Lilo Gutierrez
Art in the Park is also a fundraiser for the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, with a portion of proceeds supporting the preservation and promotion of the country’s cultural heritage.
In recognition of the fair’s sustained impact, the Foundation has introduced the Art in the Park: the NMP Legacy Grant, honoring the event’s two decades of contribution to the Philippine art scene.
More Than a Fair
Photo from Art in the Park 2025
Organized by Philippine Art Events, Inc., with support from Bank of the Philippine Islands and Globe Telecom, and in partnership with MACEA and Barangay Bel Air, the fair remains open to the public with free admission. Qualified BPI Credit Cardholders may also avail of the Flexipay option, offering zero-percent interest installments for up to six months.
After twenty years, the formula remains refreshingly simple: art under the trees, prices within reach, and a community that keeps coming back.
“It’s really a nice day out in the park,” Lopa says.
And two decades on, it still is.
