From nude sketching to biblical triptychs, here’s what to see in the Manila visual art scene this August 2025.
August is many things: ghost month, Lionsgate season, and the month just before the “-ber” months explode into a premature holiday frenzy. It sits in a liminal space. But for the art world in Manila, the days and nights are filled with activity.
Coming up this Saturday, the UP Vargas Museum will open its doors for Family Day. It’s open for children aged six to ten, and will include a morning of zine-making, gardening, and hands-on art sessions led by Patti Ramos.
For the titas, happening from Aug. 7 to 10 at The Peninsula Manila, MaArte Fair is returning with its signature mix of heritage crafts and contemporary design. The fair is a one-stop-shop for collectors or anyone who appreciates beautifully made local pieces.
For practicing artists or art students, The Grey Space in San Juan is holding a live nude figure drawing session. The late afternoon session on Aug. 16 will also offer a safe space to connect with the creative community.
All month long, WHYNoT is collaborating with the special Fotomoto Atelier program. From portfolio reviews to a CULT photo exhibit on Aug. 9, the space continues to act as an incubator for artists. WHYNoT also launches “On the Verge,” where anyone can present their works-in-progress to an informal panel: the audience.
Beyond the fairs and workshops, there is also a slate of visual art exhibitions. So if you’re looking for art that asks you to linger a little, these visual art exhibits in Manila are a good place to start.
Since opening in late 2019, Modeka has been holding its annual “Open House” and this year’s run features over 60 established and emerging artists.
The works featured range in medium—spread across the main floor and loft. The gallery’s glassbox also highlights a collaborative project titled “Animal Bite Center,” which is co-curated by Harn and Arvin Viola.
“Open House” aims to reinvent the gallery space with each iteration. And this year’s opening night was filled with the electric energy typical of Modeka as a gallery, packed with art, music, and the palpable sense that the space is open—welcome to everyone.
“Open House” runs from Aug. 2 to 30 at Modeka, Warehouse 20A, La Fuerza 1 2241, Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City
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Jonidel Mendoza, “Shadows Between the Lines” at Galleria Duemila
In “Shadows Between the Lines,” Venezuelan visual artist Jonidel Mendoza presents a contemplative solo exhibition composed of seven paintings and three sculptural installations.
Subtle yet striking, the works explore faceless human forms rendered through translucent layers, evoking a stillness that invites pause with deliberate interplays of light and shadow.
