20 years of strolling through Art in the Park
Each March, Jaime Velasquez Park in Makati is transformed into an art landscape for one single Sunday. That’s the beauty of Art in the Park, which will be held March 15, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. this time.
It also happens to be the 20th anniversary of our favorite day out surrounded by artworks, vendors, and music, so we asked AIP co-founders Trickie Lopa and Lisa Periquet why it still works. “It’s just fun,” says Lisa, compared to the high-stakes challenge of putting together Art Fair a month earlier. “We try to keep it simple. It’s when the gates of the park open, that’s when we know it’s okay, because that’s the spirit of artwork. It’s always democratic.”
“It’s a nice day out, it’s outdoor fun, and a good place to start” for art collectors.
She talks about one AIP fan who camped out in front of the park gate the night before AIP opened at 10 a.m. on Sunday. “Somebody set up the night before, and literally sat there next to the gate in his folding chair. He said, ‘I’m not moving from here.’ They lock the gates, but he was waiting it out.” That’s probably the best way to get first dibs on hundreds of artworks by new and established artists with prices capped at P70,000.
This year’s edition continues the event’s legacy, featuring a curated selection of works from 55 exhibitors representing galleries, art collectives, independent art spaces, and student groups.
For AIP 2026, the featured contemporary Filipina visual artist is Ayka Go, a UP arts graduate known for her delicate work with paper and collages, which she then translates from three-dimensional form into ethereal paintings. Go’s work invites viewers into a world of memory and materiality, an approach she calls “pause and play.”
In honor of its 20th anniversary, Trickie notes the fair will also offer visitors a rare opportunity to acquire works by several artists who have headlined the event in previous years. The lineup of special exhibit artists joining Go are Bjorn Calleja, Carlo Tanseco, Demi Padua, Jomike Tejido, Marina Cruz, Anna Bautista, AR Manalo, Charlie Co, Manny Garibay, Pepe Delfin, TRNZ, Clarence Chun, and Lynyrd Paras. The showcase continues with the compelling works of Yvonne Quisumbing, Zean Cabangis, Maxine Syjuco, Richard Quebral, Robert Alejandro, Rodel Tapaya, Willie De Vera, Beth Parrocha, Eugene Jarque, Lydia Velasco, Yeo Kaa, Dex Fernandez, Pete Jimenez, Jacob Lindo, Mac Valdezco, Distort Monsters, Leeroy New, Nasser Lubay, Isaiah Cacnio, Antipas Delotavo Jr., Henrielle Baltazar Pagkaliwangan, Joy Mallari, Mark Justiniani, Tessy Pettyjohn, Jon Pettyjohn, Joey de Castro, Kabunyan de Guia, Agnes Arellano, Daniel dela Cruz, Bea Camacho, and Ambie Abaño.
Their works will also be available in a commemorative portfolio box, which features a curated collection of special edition prints. In a special nod to the occasion, works showcased under the special exhibit are exempt from the event price cap.
More than just an outdoor fair, Art in the Park continues to serve a deeper purpose. A portion of the proceeds from every sale goes directly to the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, supporting their vital projects and initiatives in preserving and promoting the nation’s cultural and historical heritage.
In recognition of two decades of partnership, the Museum Foundation of the Philippines is presenting a prestigious new grant named after the event: the Art in the Park NMP Legacy Grant. This grant honors the fair’s valuable contribution to the Foundation’s mission and its enduring impact on the local art community.
Unlike Art Fair, which has proven to be a mobile affair, AIP has staked out its territory at the grassy perimeter of Jaime Velasquez Park all this time, which for Lisa reinforces its long-standing ties with the community, the Makati neighbors who’ve come to expect this event to transform their world for a single Sunday over all these years.
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Art in the Park admission is free. Join for a day of discovery, community and the best of Filipino creativity in a toast to 20 years of Art in the Park this March 15.
Art in the Park is organized by Philippine Art Events, Inc., for the benefit of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, with support from Bank of The Philippine Islands and Globe, and with partners MACEA, Barangay Bel Air, and the Museum Foundation of the Philippines.
Qualified BPI Credit Cardholders may purchase artworks through Flexipay, offering flexible installment terms of up to six months at zero percent interest, subject to applicable terms and conditions.
