The Ortigas Art Festival has returned for its ninth edition, offering a broad program of visual art, film, and interactive workshops at GH Mall in San Juan. The event runs through July 30, aiming to broaden public access to contemporary artistic expression.
Curator Renato R. Habulan highlighted the festival’s expanded footprint, noting that the new venue provides significantly more space than previous locations. The larger setting is intended to attract a wider audience through increased foot traffic.
Festival founder Helen Mirasol explained that the event has evolved over a decade into a multidisciplinary showcase. Each year new components are added, reinforcing the festival’s commitment to diverse artistic disciplines.
This year’s theme, “Elevate,” reflects a vision of “Art For All.” Two dedicated exhibitions honor National Artists, featuring a collection of books by Virgilio Almario and miniature works by the late Salvador Bernal.
An installation by Junyee, the environmental sculptor known as the “Father of Philippine Installation Art,” presents large-scale transformations of natural materials that blur the line between artwork and landscape.
Several artist collectives are represented, including Agos Studio, Eskinita Art Gallery, Linangan Art Residency, Thombayan Art Space, Art Circle Gallery, Historia Art Gallery, Nami Art Gallery, the Collective Artists of Angono, the Mindoro Artists Group, the Pasig Art Club, and the Ortigas Foundation.
A photographic exhibit by Born in Film showcases nostalgic and contemporary images from across the Philippines. The visual program complements a robust film schedule organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
Screenings include full-length features, short films, and selections from the Cinemalaya, Lakbay Sine, and Gawad Alternatibo festivals. The documentary “That We May See” commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Kaisahan movement, while experimental works by Sari Dalena and emerging filmmakers are also featured.
Free workshops invite visitors to try acrylic pouring, block printing, plaster art, paper cutting, sketching, and storytelling, alongside masterclasses on copyright issues.
The festival introduced the inaugural Ortigas Art Grant, a development program that will support selected artists with the opportunity to present new work in 2027 and gain exposure linked to an international art fair.
Admission to the Ortigas Art Festival remains free, and the event continues daily until July 30 at GH Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City.
