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Six Must-See Events and Exhibitions During National Arts Month

Here’s a list of major shows and under-the-radar exhibitions to see this February.
February 11, 2025
dex fernandez
Still from Dex Fernandez’s Animation for Hope You Are (Also) In This Spectrum of So Far, So Good. Courtesy of Dex Fernandez

National Arts Month brings a wave of cultural events, especially in the visual arts. From art fairs to intimate gallery exhibitions to bold explorations of emerging trends, there is no shortage of inspiration. Whether you’re an avid collector, a casual art lover, or simply looking for an unforgettable date idea, these must-see exhibitions in the metro promise to captivate, delight, and surprise.

1. Art Fair Philippines 2025

The much-anticipated Art Fair Philippines runs from February 23 to 25. This year, a momentous shift takes place with the fair’s change of venue from The Link carpark to the pulsating garden of Ayala Triangle, nestled at the intersection of Ayala Avenue, Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas. With tickets at Php 750–if you haven’t scored a VIP pass from your trusted art gallery yet–art lovers will find themselves hopping about the fair tent (designed by Nazareno/Lichauco) to catch a mix of special exhibitions by established and emerging artists, exclusive film screenings by local and international directors, and art talks on topics that tackle the current landscape of contemporary art or highlight digital art collecting. https://artfairphilippines.com/

2. Underground Gallery’s 10th Year Anniversary Exhibition

Within Makati Cinema Square stands the avant-garde art space of Underground Gallery. Celebrating its 10th year, the gallery opened its anniversary show last January 29 with a roster of well-respected and visionary artists who have pushed the boundaries of Philippine contemporary art locally and worldwide. The exhibition is headlined by Pam Yan Santos, Jose John Santos III, Oca Villamael, Jigger Cruz, Nilo Ilarde, Jan Balquin, Yasmin Ching, Mariano Ching, Gale Encarnacion, Pete Jimenez, and Bernardo Pacquing. Exhibition runs until the 21st of February. https://www.instagram.com/underground.gallery

3. Mo_Space

Geraldine Javier and Marionne Contreras will hold an exhibition from February 16 to March 22. Javier’s works–a mix of paintings, assemblage, installations, cloth and natural elements–never cease to arrest whoever steps foot in her exhibitions. On the other hand, Contreras, with her knack for poetic depictions of womanhood, brings to the fore the many qualities and forms of fiber–rugs, thread, soft sculptures, and dead stock fabric–as vehicles for her message. https://www.mo-space.net/

4. Vinyl on Vinyl

bitto painting interstellar
“Interstellar” by Bitto, acrylic on canvas, 40 inches x 40 inches. Courtesy of Vinyl on Vinyl

For the growing public that delights in character-based art, a visit to the Vinyl on Vinyl Gallery at Karrivin Plaza is akin to a trip to wonderland, further emphasized in its upcoming group show, Imprinted Spheres, that includes artists like Bitto, Bjorn Calleja, Mr. S, and Reen Barera, among others. Fresh, vivid, and playful, this new breed of art unlocks within us a particular unguarded joy that may be shared by children and children at heart. The exhibit will open on February 15 and will run until March 5. https://www.vinylonvinylgallery.com/

5. Finale Art File

Still from Dex Fernandez’s Animation for Hope You Are (Also) In This Spectrum of So Far, So Good. Courtesy of Dex Fernandez

Those who follow Dex Fernandez can attest to the endless verve the artist possesses, especially in his artistic practice with Garapata, a four-legged stylized depiction of a flea, which, for the artist, resembles the ceaseless resilience of Filipinos. A multidisciplinary artist, Fernandez leaves his mark on the local and international art scene through murals, paintings, graffiti, multimedia art, and posters. This February at Finale Art File, viewers will witness a more composed energy from the artist, highlighting the ponderous process of ascertaining which technical elements come together to make good art. His solo exhibition, Hope You Are (Also) In This Spectrum of So Far, So Good, will run from February 7 to March 1. https://www.finaleartfile.com/

6. Blanc

lourd de veyra poster
Courtesy of Blanc Gallery

The sardonic duo of Kaloy Olavides and Lourd De Veyra is not for the faint of heart. Ongoing at the Blanc Gallery, Drawing In Tandem features a series of visceral sketchings that reveal the interrogations of Olavides and De Veyra on the legacy of violence bestowed upon the people by the Philippine government. Even as individual practitioners, Olavides and De Veyra have applied art as a means to probe the glossed-over injustices that persecute their countrymen, revealing unsuppressed, vicious, and irreverent voices. A word of advice: brace yourself for unflinching brutality and raw honesty. https://blanc.ph/

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