The Good Life: This Week’s Editor’s Picks is All About Art
Every week, we round up our Editors’ Favorites—restaurants, cocktails, experiences, exhibits, and everything in between.
This week’s guest edit comes from Robb Report Philippines’ very own Editor for Lifestyle, Alicia Colby-Sy. She is an author, epicure, and passionate art enthusiast–and in this special edit, she lists her selection of must-see events and exhibitions within the bustling art scene.
1. Art Fair Philippines 2025
Now in its 12th year, the highly anticipated Art Fair Philippines opens this week at its new venue in Ayala Triangle. After years of being held at The Link Carpark in Makati, the prestigious art event has shifted to a new venue embracing an open-air format with ventilated tents spread throughout the lawn, creating a refreshing and immersive experience for exhibitors and attendees alike. The VIP preview and Vernissage are scheduled on February 20 offering an exclusive first look at the exhibits before they open to the public from February 21 to 23.
As Art Fair Philippines expands its international reach, a global gathering of notable exhibitors from Austria, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and of course, the Philippines, will showcase an impressive array of both foreign and Filipino visual artists, further solidifying the fair’s role as a hub for artistic exchange and cross-cultural dialogue.
Among the highlights of Art Fair Philippines 2025 are the special exhibits featuring some of the most influential and emerging names in contemporary art. This year’s lineup includes notable artists such as Manny Garibay, Manuel Ocampo, Goldie Poblador, Ryan Rubio, Jezzel Wee, and SPY studio.
An exhibition by Carlos in Galeria Paloma’s booth this year launches the artist’s art book, with a foreword by Cid Reyes and a personal essay by Butch Abad, as well as a limited editionLimited EditionA product produced in deliberately restricted numbers, often numbered, signed, and distinguished by special materials or design. Limited editions create scarcity, urgency, and desirability, and they are common across watches,Go to Limited Edition Glossary collection of Carlos x Ken Samudio beaded minaudières.
Each of these artists brings a distinct voice and perspective, contributing to a diverse and enriching showcase that reflects the dynamism of Philippine art.
Tasked with designing the project spaces for the fair, Nazareno/Lichauco brings its fresh and innovative approach to exhibition design as its layout aims to complement the diverse art forms on display and maximize their impact.
Another key program of Art Fair Philippines is its lineup of insightful Art Talks, featuring discussions led by prominent artists, curators, critics, and industry professionals. The Art Talks provide a platform for meaningful discourse, allowing attendees to deepen their understanding of artistic practices and gain valuable insights from experts in the field. Not to be missed are conversations with artists Isabel and Alfredo Aquilizan in “Nothing to Declare and Other Projects,” as well as “From Collecting to Building Bridges: A Journey in Art with Ning Chong, founder of Family Office for Art (FOFA) Asia, and Christophe Noe, co-founder of Larry’s List, and a talk about the artist Fernando Zobel by popular historian, Ambeth Ocampo.
Art Fair Philippines 2025, Ayala Triangle, Makati City. February 21-23.
2. Asian Art Council Auction at León Gallery
The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) Philippines Foundation, Inc. and León Gallery present the much-anticipated Asian Cultural Council Auction, set to take place on February 22, 2025. This marks the 10th anniversary of the partnership between León Gallery and ACC, a collaboration dedicated to providing talented Filipino artists with opportunities to expand their artistic endeavors on the global stage.
This year’s auction celebrates this milestone with an extraordinary collection of masterpieces. Among them are Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s On the Beach, a piece from her inkblot series during her prolific “Hong Kong Paintings” period, and the dual artistic phases of Vicente Manansala: his 1957 Dambana represents his Neo-Realist period and two rare works from his Cubist, stained-glass-inspired period, Mother and Child and Sabungero. The auction will also feature Fernando Zóbel’s Septiembre, a las siete de la tarde, en Tres Juncos that was highlighted in TIME Magazine’s 1966 coverage of Cuenca’s Museo de Arte Abstracto Español, a project that cemented Zóbel’s place in global art history.
The Asian Cultural Council Auction, León Gallery, Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City. February 22 at 2 p.m.
3. Heritage & Algorithm by Chris Patio at Vetted
Heritage & Algorithm, a solo exhibition by Bay Area Filipino-American artist Chris Patio, marks the artist’s first solo show in Manila since he relocated to the United States after graduating from the College of Fine Arts and Design at Philippines Women’s University.
Though not widely recognized in Philippine art circles today, Patio made an early impression in the local art scene, securing second place in the 1995 Shell National Arts Competition. After nearly three decades abroad, Heritage & Algorithm serves as Patio’s homecoming, reintroducing his artistic practice to Manila. Deeply rooted in classical traditions, his works in this exhibition reflect the intersection of history and modernity. The exhibit features 12 oil-on-canvas paintings that embody Patio’s artistic philosophy. Drawing from vintage photographs, his subjects are depicted in period attire and posed in compositions reminiscent of the era. Painted in sepia tones, his brushstrokes reflect his strong classical foundation.
Heritage & Algorithm, Vetted, Unit 126, Milelong Bldg., Amorsolo St. corner V. Rufino, Makati City. February 19 to March 7. Viewing hours from 1 PM to 6 PM.
4. Witness of the Quiet: Photographs by Denise Weldon at the Yuchengco Museum
In her first museum survey, photographer Denise Weldon presents an expansive retrospective spanning four decades of her creative journey.
Witness of the Quiet features over 30 photographs, predominantly from the late 1990s, with the most recent piece created in 2025. The collection exemplifies the photographer’s unwavering commitment to her art—a commitment she attributes to a process of exploration and organic discovery in image-making. Instead of confining her creativity to a traditional studio, she draws inspiration from every setting—from the familiar surroundings of her family’s living room to spontaneous moments during a South African vacation.
For Weldon, every moment is an opportunity to seize life as it unfolds, harnessing the delicate interplay of light and shadow to freeze time within each frame—a genuine chronicle of life’s ever-changing beauty.
Yuchengco Museum, RCBC Plaza Makati. Ongoing.
5. Silverlens at Art Fair Philippines
In celebration of the 12th edition of Art Fair Philippines, Silverlens presents 57 artists working in diverse mediums across three Manila venues: its showroom on Chino Roces Extension in Makati, Art Fair Philippines at Tower One (Ayala Triangle, Booth 9), and a special pop-up at Somerset in the Olympia Building, Makati. Curated by gallery directors Isa Lorenzo and Rachel Rillo, the exhibition features four capsule shows—History and Identity; Dreams and Celestials/Coded Deities; Surface Tension; and Roots and Reefs. A few of the 57 featured artists are Pacita Abad, Pio Abad, Nicole Coson, Marina Cruz, Chati Coronel, Mit Jai Inn Frank Callaghan, Bernardo Paquing, Keka Enriquez, Catalina Africa, Santiago Bose, Jose Tence Ruiz, Rodel Tapaya, Leo Valledor, Ryan Villamael, MMYu, Yee I-Lann, and Eric Zamuco.
Some special events include a book launch and talk for the recently published Santiago Bose: Painter, Magician at Art Fair Philippines’ Art Fair Talks, with featured speakers Christopher Y. Lew, Lilledeshan Bose, Kawayan de Guia, and moderator Boots Herrera on Friday, February 21, 2025, from 5-6 PM at The Executive Centre, Tower Two, Ayala Triangle Gardens.
Additionally, two book signings for recently released art books by ArtAsiaPacific (HK) : Pow Martinez, written by Tony Godfrey, and Bernardo Pacquing, Everyday Materials with essays by David Elliott, Gary-Ross Pastrana, Josephine V. Roque, and Russell Store.
Silverlens, Booth 9, Tower One, Ayala Triangle Gardens. February 22, 4 to 5 p.m. Martinez, Godfrey, and Pacquing will be present.
6. Hair tied together, embodied we speak, Pinagtaling buhok, kinatawang bigkas at Calle Wright
Organized by Gina Osterloh, Calle Wright artist-in-residence, and Gary-Ross Pastrana, Calle Wright project director, artists Patricia Perez Eustaquio, Wawi Navarroza, Gina Osterloh, Nurul Huda Rashid, Stephanie Syjuco, Isola Tong, and Yee I-Lann come together in an exhibition that reveals connecting photographic practices among artists who imagine a shared identity that spans generations and borders, using materials like abaca, rope, rattan, batik, and glass.
Calle Wright is an art space in the heart of Malate founded by Isa Lorenzo and Rachel Rillo of Silverlens. It provides a platform for mid-career and established artists to showcase their work within a rich historical context. As a dynamic art space, Calle Wright engages local communities within Manila while fostering a vibrant exchange among artists, curators, and cultural professionals, in and outside of Manila.
Calle Wright, 1890 Vasquez Street, Malate, Manila. February 15 through April 27.