Art in the Park at 20

In Manila, the art world oftentimes gathers itself within white cubes. Art in the Park prefers trees.

On March 15, the long-running outdoor fair returns to Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village, Makati, marking its 20th anniversary with the easygoing energy that has made it one of the country’s most beloved cultural fixtures. For a single day, the leafy pocket of Makati transforms into a lively marketplace of ideas, color, and conversation, a place where collectors, students, and curious passersby mingle freely between booths.

Since its founding, the fair has operated on a simple but radical premise: good art should not feel intimidating. This year’s edition continues that ethos with a curated roster of 55 exhibitors, ranging from established galleries and independent art spaces to collectives and student groups. In keeping with tradition, all artworks presented by exhibitors are capped at ₱70,000, ensuring that both seasoned collectors and curious first-time buyers can participate in the thrill of acquisition.

But Art in the Park has always been about more than just sales. A portion of proceeds from every artwork sold goes to the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, supporting projects that safeguard the country’s cultural heritage. Two decades into the partnership, the foundation is marking the milestone with a new initiative with the Art in the Park: NMP Legacy Grant, honoring the fair’s long-standing role in nurturing the Philippine art ecosystem.

For its 20th anniversary, the fair also brings together an impressive constellation of artists who have shaped its history. This year’s featured artist is Ayka Go, the contemporary Filipina visual artist whose delicate paper works and atmospheric collages explore memory, fragility, and material transformation. Her practice—often translating sculptural forms into ethereal paintings—invites viewers into an introspective space where texture and recollection intertwine.

Joining Go in a special anniversary exhibition are artists whose names have become fixtures in the local art landscape. Among them are Bjorn Calleja, Carlo Tanseco, Demi Padua, Jomike Tejido, Marina Cruz, Anna Bautista, Charlie Co, Manny Garibay, and Pepe Delfin, alongside contemporary standouts such as Rodel Tapaya, Yeo Kaa, Dex Fernandez, Leeroy New, Kabunyan de Guia, and Agnes Arellano. Their works will also be available in a commemorative portfolio box featuring special-edition prints, a collector’s keepsake designed to mark the occasion.

In a rare departure from the fair’s famous price ceiling, pieces included in the anniversary exhibition will be exempt from the ₱70,000 cap, giving collectors access to works by these celebrated figures at a broader range of price points.

Of course, Art in the Park’s charm lies as much in the setting as in the art itself. Over the years, the event has become something of a ritual in Manila’s cultural calendar. It’s a day when collectors, artists, students, and families mingle beneath acacia trees while browsing paintings, prints, ceramics, and sculptures. Art in the Park remains refreshingly unpretentious two decades on. It is, quite simply, one of the rare art fairs where buying your first piece feels just as welcome as acquiring your fiftieth.

For collectors hoping to take home more than a single piece, qualified BPI credit cardholders may also purchase artworks through Flexipay, offering installment plans of up to six months at zero percent interest. More information here.