Cover Inside Xavier Art Fest 2025 during the ingress night (Photo: Instagram / @xsartfest)
Inside Xavier Art Fest 2025 during the ingress night (Photo: Instagram / @xsartfest)
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Considered one of Xavier School’s cornerstone events, Xavier Art Fest bridges the esteemed school’s students, faculty, and alumni with the larger Metro Manila art scene for a worthy cause
Established in 2015, Xavier Art Fest has grown into a “cultural extravaganza while supporting a noble cause”, as described by Bryan Sison, this year’s head of the art fest committee behind the celebrated annual fair. Hailing from Batch 1999 of Xavier High School, Sison credits the batch’s success of taking on the mantle of organising all of the year’s events in the incredible support of their core organising team, Hans Sy of SM, and Kendrick Tan of Emperador / Megaworld.
Besides continuing its longstanding fundraising efforts for Xavier’s Educational Trust Fund, Xavier Art Fest has expanded its philanthropic reach to include the “Para Kay Cher” programme, aimed at assisting retired Xavier School teachers with their medical bills.
“Over the years, Xavier Art Fest has remained committed to promoting art appreciation while contributing to these worthy causes,” Sison shares with Tatler.
Sison recalls that turning the fair into a reality has been months in the making. “And we really have to thank those who’ve come before us,” he says. “Previous batches that have started and maintained this amazing event and from whom we’ve received so much guidance and assistance. We are riding on the hard work of those who’ve paved the path for us and enabled us to evolve and grow this event.”
A total of 54 commercial art galleries and artist-run spaces participated in this year’s Xavier Art Fest. Some of these are well-known names like Altro Mondo, Art Underground, Arte Bettina, Artemis Art, Artinformal, Avellana Art Gallery, Blanc, Cartellino, DF Art Agency, Finale Art File, Galerie Stephanie, Galleria Duemila, Gallery Kogure, Gravity Art Space, J Studio, Kaida Contemporary, MO Space, Modeka, MONO8, Nami Art Gallery, Qube Gallery, The Crucible, The Drawing Room, Tin-Aw Projects, Vantage Contemporary, Vinyl on Vinyl, West Gallery, White Walls Gallery, YOD Gallery, and Ysobel Art Gallery. Most interesting there earlier was Tin-Aw Projects’ print on archival paper from a two-hour live painting collaboration Haraya signed by National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera with other premier artists like Renato Habulan, Alfredo Esquillo, Manny Garibay, Mark Justiniani, and Joy Mallari.
Meanwhile, galleries and artists behind ALT Philippines, another annual art fair frequented by art lovers, critics, established artists, and curators, mounted a special capsule exhibition curated by Nilo Ilarde. Vita Sarenas, gallery owner of Finale Art File and one of the collective’s pioneers, disclosed to Tatler that ALT Philippines will take place this August.
Another section of Xavier Art Fest is dedicated to the fascinating works of the school’s foremost student artists, titled “Art for a Cause”. Earlier today, Julian Casino’s One Step Forward or Fall was the most striking work in that section. It is an oil and acrylic on canvas work 36 inches high and wide. Bathing under the spotlight is a mound of earth with a moth wide open, ready to devour the light enveloping it amidst the blackness of its surroundings and the implied bleakness of its emotion. It is quite a captivating work for a Grade 10 student.
In case you missed it: Art for a cause: Xavier School’s talked about annual art fest
Besides being deeply grateful for this year’s participating galleries, Sison is excited about its unique auction programme, “Whisky x Art”. In partnership with Fettercairn, Xavier Art Fest commissioned ten artists to showcase their creativity by reimagining Fettercairn’s 25-year-old vintage (Batch 1999) whisky bottles.
“We will be running this silent auction through our event, and we are so excited for everyone to see how these pieces have been recreated and transformed by these truly visionary artists,” Sison says.
Xavier Art Fest is open to anyone, and there is no admission fee. This will encourage more members of the Xavier school community and beyond to participate in this weekend-long celebration of “art for all.” Select Xavier alumni batches also have their booths at the fair.
“I truly see this event as a space where everyone can appreciate art and for this to inspire Xavier students to be aware of art—and not just art as a subject, but to appreciate it, to protect the essence of our culture as interpreted by these great contemporary artists of each and every generation. The artists of our generation will be different from the next—so it will document our history, the relevant subject matters and the social priorities of our time!” Sison exclaims.
Above Ryan Rubio’s stone sculpture before Eugene Jarque’s acrylic on wood (Photo: Franz Sorilla IV)
Above Alexandra Abad’s work featured at Arte Bettina (Photo: Franz Sorilla IV)
Ryan Rubio’s stone sculpture before Eugene Jarque’s acrylic on wood (Photo: Franz Sorilla IV)
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The fact that Xavier Art Fest is built upon the credo that it is for a worthy cause makes Sison strongly believe that it is why established artists and galleries are always eager to participate.
“We have this year and in the past, Xavier alumni presenting their works as artists or as collective batches. So, this event truly is a community event. Alumni and their family have a reason to come back to Xavier, to see how their alma mater has transformed with them—in some cases, to bring their next generation along for the ride. The sense of community is truly what sets Xavier Art Fest apart from other events,” Sison proudly shares.
One of the things about the fair that surprises Sison is that it is now close to its 10th year of mounting. “There was no art fest when my batchmates and I were growing up in Xavier School. I strongly hope that this event allows our next generation of Xaverians to have a stronger appreciation of art as compared to our generation—that this event becomes a conversation starter that allows them to discuss, debate, and hopefully learn more about our artists, their passions, and the subject matters that they are conveying through their work,” Sison shares.
Quoting Ella Fontanals-Cisneros, Sison emphasises art’s power—beyond its decorative element—to question, inspire, and challenge our ways of seeing the world. “In the end, the next generation will be key to preserving and protecting our culture, our identity, and spirit—and where better to instil this value than in a school that aims to shape ‘men for others’?” he concludes.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
