9th Ortigas Art Festival elevates art appreciation and creative expression

 

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 Competitionto support up-and-coming Filipino artists. (In the photo: Ortigas Art Competitionfinalists  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 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. 

Among this year’s highlights are exhibitions dedicated 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 comes alive in an exhibition mounted in partnership with the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).

“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.