The Ortigas Art Festival returns to GH Mall from July 16 to 31, transforming the shopping destination into a free, multidisciplinary celebration of Filipino creativity through contemporary art exhibitions, independent film screenings, live performances, and interactive workshops.
Carrying the theme “Elevate,” the 9th edition marks the festival’s continued evolution from a traditional painting exhibition into one of Metro Manila’s most accessible platforms for visual arts and cultural expression. Built on its long-running advocacy of “Art For All,” the festival brings together visual arts, cinema, music, dance, and hands-on learning in one venue.
Among this year’s major exhibitions are tributes to two of the country’s most influential cultural figures. National Artist for Literature Virgilio Almario is featured through a collaboration with the University of the Philippines (UP) Press, while the legacy of National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal is showcased in an exhibition mounted in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
The festival also highlights environmental sculptor and the “Father of Philippine Installation Art” Junyee as its featured artist. Renowned for transforming natural materials into monumental installations, Junyee’s works reflect the spirit of innovation that defines this year’s festival.
Complementing these exhibitions are presentations from participating galleries 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, the Mindoro Artists Group, Pasig Art Club, the Ortigas Foundation, and other artist-run initiatives.
A photography exhibition by Born in Film also showcases nostalgic and contemporary images from across the Philippines.
The festival has also partnered with the CCP and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) to present a program ranging from full-length features to acclaimed short films from emerging and established Filipino filmmakers.
The lineup includes 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 and short films such as I’m 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) further broaden the cinematic program.
Live performances also form part of the festival experience, with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Quartet and dance showcases opening this year’s celebration.
Visitors are likewise invited to become creators through free workshops covering acrylic pouring, block printing, textured plaster art, paper cutting, sketching, storytelling, and copyright masterclasses by Born in Film.
The festival also launches the inaugural Ortigas Art Competition, an artist development initiative designed to support participants beyond the exhibition. The 24 finalists will present their works in an exhibition in January 2027, with the selected grantee to be recognized during the festival’s 10th anniversary celebration and receive an international exposure opportunity connected to Art Basel Hong Kong 2027.
