As expected, the local art scene came back with a vengeance. Here are some of the newly-opened galleries that are worth visiting
Many physical galleries have either limited their foot traffic or integrated with the online space at the height of public health crises in the last couple of years. A few had to close, like Pineapple Lab, yet there were more who braved the uncharted metaverse medium like Narra Gallery and other artist spaces leading the rising crypto art community.
Surprisingly, there are many who dared enter the Philippine art scene in this uncertain time and succeeded in adding vibrancy to the community. Aside from newly established galleries, there are also galleries that have set up their branches, widening their reach among art enthusiasts, art lovers, and collectors.
Here are some must-visit galleries and artist spaces that are recently making waves on our radar:
1. Thombayan Art Space
Do not be fooled by how it looks from the outside, as it is at the heart of the bohemian barangay of Bangkal, Makati's go-to hub for antiques, intricate sculptures, and thrift shops. Thombayan Art Space is the brainchild of distinguished performance-based painter and teacher Thomas Daquioag. This artist-run space opened in the summer of 2022, aiming to utilise contemporary art in retelling the stories of the Filipinos, who, in his words, are "a hapless people with a rich colonial past, mired by current political uncertainty".
For its inaugural exhibition, the renowned social realist artist tapped one of the prominent figures in the Philippine art scene Renato Habulan to curate the works of their fellow artist-friends such as Jose Tence Ruiz, Alfredo Aquilizan, Mark Justiniani, Elmer Borlongan, Manny Garibay, Ferdie Montemayor, Jim Orencio, Plet Bolipata, Pandy Aviado, and Wire Tuazon, who all happen to be some of the country's leading names in the art scene.
Visit Thombayan Art Space and see the works also of emerging and engaging Filipino contemporary artists.
1154-A Rodriguez Street, Bangkal, Makati City
Read also: Artist in Focus: 'It's Plet's Palette'