Gateway Art Fair, Quezon City’s highly anticipated celebration of visual arts, officially opened its fifth and largest edition on October 1 at Araneta City.
Running from October 1 to 4, the event features artworks from 250 local participants—the highest number since the fair began—across Gateway Mall 1 and Gateway Mall 2, making this year’s celebration its biggest yet.
The main exhibition takes center stage at the Quantum Skyview of Gateway Mall 2, where 36 booths showcase works by artists and art groups from different parts of the country. Participating groups include Yaru Nu Artes Ivatan, Voyage: Mindo Artist Group, UST College of Fine Arts, Artistica PH, Pugad in Art Studio, Female Art Addicts, and more. Admission to the exhibition is free.
Beyond viewing the artworks, visitors can explore their creativity through hands-on workshops in mandala-making, collaborative drawing, soft sculpture, rubber and relief cutting, and other free activities scheduled from October 2 to 4 at Gateway Mall 1.
Art enthusiasts can also discover immersive installations created by local artists. These include works by Chris Luca, which explore the challenges of commuting; Elias Pernecita Jr., who highlights the connection between art and sustainability; and Nina Chanco Libatique, who presents an interactive and playful artwork designed for pets. The installations are located on Levels 3 and 4 of Gateway Mall 2.
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 core mission of opening gateways to creative and economic opportunities. The annual event has been held at Araneta City since 2022.
Gateway Art Fair Awards
The fair’s opening ceremony on October 1 also marked the inauguration of the first Gateway Art Fair Awards, recognizing outstanding works and creative presentations among this year’s participants.
Winners were selected across three categories: the Gateway Art Fair Masterpiece Award, which recognizes an exceptional artwork in the exhibition; the Breakthrough Artist Award, given to a piece that presents a distinctive perspective; and the Exhibit of the Year Award, which honors the best-designed booth.
This year’s awardees were:
- 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, recognizing the artist duo and sisters
Each winner received a trophy sculpted by Jenny Cortes, ₱10,000 in cash from JAAF, ₱10,000 worth of gift certificates from National Book Store, and ₱10,000 worth of Boysen paint products.
The opening ceremony brought together prominent cultural and civic leaders, including Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte; National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) Program Management and Evaluation Division Chief Edwin Dipalac; Cultural Center of the Philippines Visual Arts and Museum Division Officer-in-Charge 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 Chief Operating Officer Maricel Diaz; and Prof. Toym Imao of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.
Since its launch, the Gateway Art Fair has served as a platform for artists and art groups nationwide to showcase their creativity. Through its annual exhibition and year-round development and support initiatives, the fair continues to nurture artistic talent and create opportunities for the country’s visual arts community.
