The 9th Ortigas Art Festival transforms GH Mall into a free multidisciplinary festival of creativity. From July 16 to 31, 2026, visitors can explore various contemporary art galleries in the middle of the mall, catch independent film screenings, witness live performances, and learn new skills through interactive workshops.
This year’s theme, “Elevate,” reflects how the Ortigas Art Festival has steadily grown from an exhibition of paintings into one of Metro Manila’s most accessible and award-winning celebrations of Filipino creativity. What began as a vision of “Art For All,” which has been the festival’s long-running advocacy, it is elevating creativity through a multi-sensory celebration of expression. Think compelling visual arts, immersive installations, and the moving expressions of film and live performances.
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Putting the spotlight on the next generation of Filipino artists. The
9th Ortigas Art Festival elevates creativity through its free multidisciplinary
art showcase at GH Mall from July 16 to 31, 2026. For the first time, it
launched the Ortigas Art Competition to support up-and-coming Filipino artists.
(In the photo: Ortigas Art Competition finalists with [middle, L-R] Monique Castaneda, Ortigas
Malls AVP, Head of Marketing; Renato Habulan, Ortigas Art Festival Head Curator
and Consultant; San Juan City Vice Mayor Jose Angelo Rafael Agcaoili; and Arch.
Renee Bacani, Ortigas Land Vice President and Head of Ortigas Malls) |
“The theme ‘Elevate’ is both a
reflection and a call to action,” says Renato “Ato” Habulan, Lead Curator of
Ortigas Art Festival. “It honors how far the festival has come over nine years,
while challenging artists and audiences alike to rise higher, think deeper, and
experience art in new and unexpected ways right here in their neighborhood
mall.” Beyond the canvas, creativity arrives in motion. Live performances by
the prestigious Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Quartet, alongside dynamic
dance showcases provided the vibrant ambiance and entertainment during the
opening ceremony.
Celebrating Filipino cultural icons and emerging artists
Ortigas Art Festival also shines a spotlight
on environmental sculptor and the “Father of Philippine Installation Art”
Junyee as this year’s featured artist. Known for transforming natural materials
into monumental installations that blur the line between art and landscape,
Junyee’s work represents the kind of artistic innovation that the festival seeks
to celebrate.
The gallery experience extends further through
participating spaces and artist collectives including Agos Studio’s exhibition
celebrating the 50th anniversary of Kaisahan, Eskinita Art Gallery, Linangan
Art Residency, Thombayan Art Space, Art Circle Gallery, Historia Art Gallery,
Nami Art Gallery, the Collective Artists of Angono, which is considered the Art
Capital of the Philippines, the Mindoro Artists Group, Pasig Art Club, the
Ortigas Foundation, and several artist-run initiatives. A photograph exhibit by
Born in Film showcases nostalgic and modern shots from around the Philippines.
A
multidisciplinary cinematic and performance lineup
Cinema becomes an equally important part of
the conversation this year. Working with the Cultural Center of the Philippines
(CCP) and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the
festival presents a program ranging from full-length features to acclaimed
short films from emerging and established Filipino filmmakers.
These include nightly screenings of Cinemartrys,
and Alipato at Muog, alongside selections from CCP’s Lakbay Sine,
Gawad Alternatibo, and Cinemalaya programs. The documentary That We May See,
directed by Paul Morales, revisits the story of Kaisahan on its 50th
anniversary, while works by acclaimed filmmaker Sari Dalena add another layer
to the cinematic lineup. Alongside these are the short films like I’m The
Best Left Inside My Head by Elian Idoma (2025) and Pastil: Parehas Ra
Ta’g Kan-on’g Ginakaon by Andrei Francis “Franky” C. Arrocena (2025), to
name a few.
From
passion to practice
Visitors who want to make art can find plenty
of opportunities to participate during the Ortigas Art Festival.
The free workshops range from acrylic pouring
to block printing, textured plaster art, paper cutting, sketching,
storytelling, and copyright masterclasses by Born in Film. The program
encourages audiences to become creators themselves — even if it’s their first
time picking up a brush, carving a print block, or experimenting with new
materials.
Ortigas Art Festival also launches the
inaugural Ortigas Art Competition, an artist development initiative that
supports participating artists beyond the exhibition itself. The 24 finalists
will showcase their works through an
exhibit in January 2027, with the selected grantee receiving recognition during
the festival’s 10th anniversary celebration and an international exposure
opportunity connected to Art Basel Hong Kong 2027.
That accessibility has always been the
festival’s greatest strength. The Ortigas Art Festival continues to position
itself as something more democratic: a place where a family wandering through
the mall, a student discovering independent Philippine cinema, a budding
photographer, or an experienced collector can all find something that speaks to
them.
After nine editions, “Art for All” has evolved into something larger than a slogan. It has become an invitation to look longer, stay curious, and discover that art isn’t confined to gallery walls. Sometimes, it’s waiting just around the corner of your neighborhood mall.
To stay informed about upcoming Ortigas Art Festival workshops, features, and announcements, follow the Ortigas Art Festival Facebook page. For more information and updates on Ortigas Malls events, join Ortigas Malls’ Viber Community and follow GH Mall on Facebook.
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