The Gateway Art Fair marks its fifth year with its biggest edition yet, bringing together a record 250 local artists and art participants across Gateway Malls 1 and 2 from October 1 to 4.
Presented as Quezon City’s annual celebration of visual arts, the fair officially opened on October 1, featuring works from artists and art groups from different parts of the country. Admission to the main exhibit is free, giving the public an opportunity to discover a diverse range of Filipino creative works.
The main exhibition is located at the Quantum Skyview of Gateway Mall 2, featuring 36 booths from participating artists and art groups, including Yaru Nu Artes Ivatan, Voyage: Mindo Artist Group, UST College of Fine Arts, Artistica PH, Pugad in Art Studio, and Female Art Addicts, among others.
Beyond the exhibits, visitors can participate in free, hands-on art workshops from October 2 to 4 at Gateway Mall 1. Activities include mandala-making, collaborative drawing, soft sculpture, rubber cutting, relief cutting, and other creative sessions designed to encourage audiences to engage with art.
The fair also features interactive installations by local artists across Levels 3 and 4 of Gateway Mall 2. Chris Luca explores the everyday struggles of commuting, Elias Pernecita Jr. highlights the connection between art and sustainability, while Nina Chanco Libatique presents a playful and interactive work created with pets in mind.
Presented by the J. Amado Araneta Foundation (JAAF), Gateway Gallery, and Araneta City, co-presented by Metrobank, and held in partnership with Megaworld, the Gateway Art Fair supports JAAF’s mission of creating gateways to creative and economic opportunities. The annual event has been held at Araneta City since 2022.
Gateway Art Fair introduces inaugural awards
The fifth edition also marked the launch of the 1st Gateway Art Fair Awards, recognizing outstanding works and presentations among this year’s participants.
Three awards were presented: the Gateway Art Fair Masterpiece Award for an exceptional artwork in the exhibit, the Breakthrough Artist Award for a work offering a unique perspective, and the Exhibit of the Year Award for the fair’s best-designed booth.
The inaugural winners are:
- Quarto Arts – Gateway Art Fair Masterpiece Award
- Vice Versa Artists Group – Breakthrough Artist Award
- Marj Sula-Aquino and Mathilda Sula-Sun – Exhibit of the Year Award
Each winner received a trophy sculpted by Jenny Cortes, Php 10,000 in cash from JAAF, Php 10,000 worth of National Book Store gift certificates, and Php 10,000 worth of Boysen paint products.
The opening ceremony was attended by cultural and civic leaders, including Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, NCCA Program Management and Evaluation Division Chief Edwin Dipalac, Cultural Center of the Philippines Visual Arts and Museum Division OIC Mark Jones Medina, JAAF President Rowell Recinto, JAAF Executive Director Diane Romero, Araneta City Vice President for Marketing Marjorie Go, Metrobank Foundation Head of the Arts and Design Unit Lalaine Calicdan, Boysen Paint Philippines Area Manager Harold Lim, National Book Store COO Maricel Diaz, and UP College of Fine Arts Professor Toym Imao.
Since its launch, the Gateway Art Fair has provided artists and art groups from across the Philippines with a platform to showcase their work while supporting creative development through its annual fair and year-round initiatives.
The Gateway Art Fair 2026 runs until October 4 at Gateway Malls 1 and 2, Araneta City, with free admission to the main exhibit and selected public activities.
