
For several years, the Ortigas Malls, under Ortigas Land, in collaboration with artist groups and cultural organizations, has been providing a venue to get more and more people exposed to and experience the arts, promoting the works of artists, especially local and emerging ones, and deepening awareness on and appreciation for the arts through the Ortigas Art Festival, which has been regularly held at the Ortigas Center, a business district in Pasig City.
This year, organizers, artists and art enthusiasts celebrate another iteration of the festival, which is held 10 to 24 July at GH (Greenhills) Mall in San Juan City, with the theme "Art for All: A Celebration of Borderless Artistic Expression.” This is the first time that the festival is being held outside Estancia Mall, bringing with it a slew of events and activities including exhibits, talks, workshops, dance and musical performances, a fashion showcase and film screenings
“Over the past eight years, the Ortigas Art Festival has grown into something truly special — a platform where Filipino creativity thrives, and where art is brought closer to the everyday Filipino. And along the way, this humble idea blossomed into an award-winning festival, recognized for its mission to make art accessible, inclusive, and alive in public spaces,” said architect Renee Bacani, vice president of Ortigas Malls, in her speech during the opening on 10 July.
“But these achievements aren’t just ours — they belong to all of you. To the artists who continue to push boundaries. To our cultural collaborators who believe in the power of community. And to every guest who walks into the exhibit with curiosity, wonder, and heart,” she added.
Bacani also enthused, “This year, we mark a new chapter as we welcome the festival to GH Mall in San Juan City — a vibrant space designed to uplift and connect. With exhibitions at the East Wing and South Wing Atrium, immersive workshops at the Tech Hub, and a rich calendar of performances, talks, and film screenings, we invite you to experience art in a way that’s interactive, inspiring, and deeply personal.”
Festival consultant Helen Mirasol recalled the journey of the festival, saying, “We started back in 2018 utilizing a portion of the bridgeway in Estancia. Over the years, we got progressively larger, and we occupied a good portion of the East Wing of Estancia.”
“Besides being free to both exhibitors and the viewing public, this festival has also been innovative. Every year saw additions until we had become the multifaceted festival that we are today. We also moved from the traditional National Arts Month of February because many others were exhibiting at the same time. Because of our adaptability, I believe we were the only art exhibit to physically present their works during Covid while others resorted to online presentations,” she added.
Continuing through the pandemic
Organizers are proud of the fact that the festival was continuously being held despite the pandemic.
“What is unique here is that we are celebrating the eighth Ortigas Art Festival, and we encounter a lot of challenges, especially during the pandemic. And to us, this is a milestone because we did not stop, we did not close during the pandemic. Ito lang ang isang art festival na tuloy-tuloy nagkaroon ng exhibit, physical exhibition. So, sa amin, tagumpay ito (This is the only art festival that continuously held exhibits — physical exhibitions. So for us, this is a victory),” artist Renato Habulan, another of the festival consultants, averred.
In his speech during the opening, he recalled that dark period: “Noong 2020, ang Ortigas Art Festival was joined by more than 300 artists and more than 500 artworks. Kasama sa eksibit ang mga Filipino artists na nakabase sa ibang bansa gaya ng New York, Australia, Hong Kong at Singapore. May mga foreign artists din na sumama mula sa Indonesia, Australia, Serbia, Germany at Bangladesh. Natapos ang malaking festival na ito limang araw bago mag-lockdown (In 2020, the Ortigas Art Festival was joined by more than 300 artists and featured over 500 artworks. The exhibit included Filipino artists based in other countries such as New York, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. Foreign artists also participated, coming from Indonesia, Australia, Serbia, Germany, and Bangladesh. This big festival concluded just five days before the lockdown).”
He also related, “Ang (the) fourth Ortigas Art Festival ay ginanap noong (was held from) February 24 to March 31, 2021. Again, we were fortunate to have a physical exhibit during the window of total lockdown. The festival expanded to include photography, film and the greater participation in sculpture. In 2022, the fifth Ortigas Art Festival was rescheduled for July to ensure the safety of our attendees, allowing a larger celebration that included the performing arts and fashion design.”
Advocacy to help young artists
According to Habulan, the Ortigas Art Festival is not only a local event, but “has a national scope.”
“Since the start, the festival expanded its participation to include artists from various regions of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, providing them with a platform and space to showcase their art in the metro. In 2023, we featured artists from Pangasinan, Bulacan and Laguna. In 2024, we showcased artists from Iloilo, Angono and Quezon,” he revealed.
This feature was born out of the advocacy of helping emerging artists, especially local artists and those from the regions outside of Metro Manila, he said.
“‘Yung aming call na ‘art for all’ or ‘art for everyone’ ay nagbubukas sa mga kabataang artist kahit baguhan sila. Walang espasyo na magbibigay sa ‘yo kung bata kang artist. So, ito, Ortigas Art Festival, ay bukas sa mga kabataang artist mula sa Metro Manila, sa regions, IloIlo, Bacolod, Pangasinan. We’ve been exhibiting their works for eight years (Our call for ‘art for all’ or ‘art for everyone’ opens doors for young artists, even beginners. There are very few spaces that welcome you if you’re a young artist. So, the Ortigas Art Festival is open to young artists from Metro Manila and the regions like Iloilo, Bacolod, and Pangasinan. We’ve been exhibiting their works for eight years),” Habulan said.
He explained: “So, we go from…like the Agos Art Studio, we have the art caravan, we go out to different provinces and look for artists, you know, look for young artists, struggling artists that are very good. You know, wala silang… iyong walang kakayahan para ituloy nila iyung kanilang sining, walang espasyo para ipakita iyong kanilang sining, at walang kakayahan para i-develop ang art nila. So, itong ginagawa namin, mga artist initiative, tulad ng Agos Studio, ng Linangan (Art Residency), at ng iba pang mga artist-run initiative (You know, those who don’t have the means to pursue their art, who lack the space to showcase their work, and don’t have the resources to develop their craft. So, that is what we do, the artist initiatives like Agos Studio, Linangan [Art Residency], and other artist-run initiatives).”
The works of these emerging artists are given the platform to reach a wider audience, and the audience are also afforded easy access to these works and other forms of art at the Ortigas Art Festival.
“You don’t have to pay to come in and look at the art. You can just come in during lunch hour or whenever. And the artists, they don’t have to pay to exhibit. So, sayang, if they exhibit and they don’t sell anything, they’re out. So, here, everything is free. We’re trying to democratize art,” Mirasol said.
A platform for different experiences
The visual arts exhibit remains to be at the heart of the festival. This year, three art exhibits showcase the works of artists presented by different galleries including Art Circle, Art Point, Jean & Jaz Gallerie, Nami Art, and Historia Art Gallery, as well as of artists from artists’ groups and initiatives, Angono Artists Collective, Linangan Art Residency, and Pasig Art Club. The exhibits also feature works by artists from the host city of San Juan, Melvin John B. Ante and Danielle Ortiz, together with Shine Vitto from Mindoro and Raul Roco, Jr.
A notable feature of the festival is the photography exhibits presented by Redlab Gallery and Born in Film.
The exhibit “Chromatic Realms” featured the works of Rommel Bundalian, Jijo de Guzman, Arlene Donaire, Joel H. Garcia, Bien Gutierrez, Ricky Ladia, Edwin Loyola, Cris Magsino, Win Magsino, Abi Miguel, Jay Tablante and Raymond Tanhueco. Additionally, this section also has a display of old cameras to celebrate a century of the device and the Photo Nation, a wall covered with thousands of photographs from photographers from around the country and the world.
Young designer Chynna Mamawal also has an exhibit of her designs.
At the Promenade Cinema, Filipino films Babae at Baril, John Denver Trending and Thy Womb are screened in collaboration with the Film Development Council of the Philippines.
The Learning Tree, Halili School of Ballet, and UPeepz also mount performances.
The Tech Hub on the fourth floor became a venue for workshops, artists’ talks, forums, and pop-up ventures, including the Watercolor Pop-Up Art Fair by Philippine Guild of Watercolorists; art talk by Linangan’s Manny Garibay; and workshops by Pasig Art Club and Born in Film.
“We hope you walk through the galleries with a sense of wonder. We hope you take part in the activities, meet the artists, and maybe even uncover a creative spark of your own,” Bacani said. “Most of all, we hope your experience here is enriching, not just artistically, but emotionally. Because this isn’t just about viewing art, it’s about feeling connected, being inspired, and celebrating the creative spirit that lives in all of us.”
“Our mission has always been to bring art closer to people and people closer to art,” said Habulan. “‘Art for all’ is our guiding principle. We believe that by making art more accessible, we’re helping artists grow, helping communities connect, and creating meaningful cultural experiences for everyone.”