In celebration of National Arts Month, several art exhibits can be visited all over the metro.
Art Lounge Manila proudly presents Buhay Pinoy, the first of a series of exhibitions in various Galerie Joaquin and Galerie Francesca galleries which brings together over 8 works by contemporary artists including Lydia Velasco, Michael Cacnio, Norma Belleza, Francis Nacion and many others, who continue and reimagine this legacy through painting and sculpture.
Philippine Genre Painting celebrates a vibrant tradition that, while shaped during the colonial period, has long been embraced and transformed by Filipino artists as a powerful expression of cultural pride. Early masters such as Damián Domingo, Honorato Lozano and Fernando Amorsolo turned their gaze toward everyday life — markets bustling with trade, fields overflowing with harvest, rituals of faith and moments of leisure — laying the foundations of a visual language rooted in the Filipino experience. Over time, this genre evolved into something deeply personal and joyful: a way of seeing ourselves with warmth, dignity and confidence.
Especially in times of uncertainty, Philippine genre painting reminds us of what sustains us. It offers comfort, joy and a sense of belonging — anchoring us in shared values and everyday rituals. Far from nostalgia, the genre remains a living, celebratory affirmation of the richness and resilience of Philippine culture.
Buhay Pinoy will be on view at Art Lounge Manila — The Podium from 3 to 13 February; Galerie Francesca — Festival Mall from 5 to 18 February; Galerie Joaquin — BGC from 7 to 17 February; Galerie Joaquin – The Podium from 11 to 22 February; and Galleria Nicolas — Greenbelt from 13 to 24 February.
An Artist Reception will be held on Saturday, 7 February, at 4 p.m. at Art Lounge Manila – The Podium in Mandaluyong City.
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Meanwhile, Spanish artist Ampparito takes over the 5th Floor of the Circuit Corporate Center One in Makati, this year´s venue of the Art Fair Philippines, where the young talent´s art installation called Esperanza de Vida (Life Expectancy) may be viewed from 6 to 8 February. But prior to those days, he is seen in action creating his art from the patio of Casa Azul in Intramuros to the gardens of the Ayala Museum.
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The public may still enjoy three other ongoing exhibits: Four Centuries of Spanish Engineering Overseas, a permanent exposition displayed at the Centro de Turismo in Intramuros; while the Ateneo Art Gallery is home to A Synergy of Ventures. The Post War Art Scene in commemoration of Fernando Zobel´s centennial birth as well as Mezcla: Interwoven Cultures and the Mantón de Manila can still be seen at the Ayala Museum, with both of these exhibits running until late February.