Twice the scale, tenfold the vision
In the story of the universe, the Big Bang marks the moment when matter and energy expanded to create reality as we know it. For the fourth edition of ALT Art, expansion is not only energetic but also literal. Moving to the SMX Convention Center from Feb. 12 to 15, 2026, the fair doubles its footprint to 5,000 square meters, with walls rising five meters high—matching the ever-expanding vision of the ALT Collective.
As Jay Amante of Blanc puts it, “It’s the fact that I am working with gallerists I look up to and being able to create a platform without restrictions. ALT Art 2026 is for our beloved artists.”
Organized by nine of the country’s leading contemporary art galleries—Artinformal, Blanc, The Drawing Room, Galleria Duemila, Finale Art File, MO_Space, Underground, Vinyl on Vinyl, and West Gallery—this edition provides the scale needed to house the dynamic and ever-evolving Philippine contemporary art ecosystem. From contemporary painting and sculpture to photography, fiber art, immersive multisensory installations, and new media, ALT Art 2026 functions as a microcosm of the Philippine contemporary art scene.
To help navigate the expansive terrain of ALT Art 2026, we present ten distinct perspectives from ALT founders and gallerists, established contemporary artists, art writers, curators, and emerging artists. Together, these voices trace ALT’s journey from its Big Bang-like vision to the disciplined, diverse, dynamic, and sometimes disruptive studio practices of the country’s most important and promising artists.
A visual Big Bang
“ALT Art 2026 will definitely be a Big Bang. As you know, we are doubling the space up to 5,000 square meters, with up to 12 project spaces, nine ALT Discoveries, and extended gallery spaces. This fair will be very dynamic, visually and conceptually!
For me, one of the highlights I’m personally looking forward to is seeing the ‘Super Structures’ of Miguel Lorenzo Uy for this year’s ‘Special Projects, presented by Nagaraya.”–Mawen Ong, MO_Space
Room for experimentation
“We have a much bigger space this year, which gives room for experimentation, more performances, and installations. We’ve added ALT Discoveries, which also adds a new depth to our programming. I’m specifically excited about how we are playing with the levels of height for this edition.”–Gaby Dela Merced, Vinyl on Vinyl
Where every artist shines
“I think ALT represents collective effort, like how each element of the fair is put together—there is collaboration and care between the galleries and the artists, and I feel that this is a very important quality in having a successful event. Everyone shines, and no one is left behind.”–Miguel Lorenzo Uy, visual artist
Spotlighting Gen Z
“I’m looking forward to how my work will be received as part of the newly introduced Discoveries section, and maybe to talking to viewers and other artists throughout.”–Joanolasco, visual artist
Photography in focus
“I am most excited about the prominent presence of photography. ALT Project Spaces features MM Yu, and ALT Discoveries features Eric Bico (both under MO_Space).
MM Yu will be expanding her work ‘Re-collected,’ in which the photographer becomes the collector of portraits of people who collect art and portraits of artists, who are themselves also collectors of images and objects. Eric Bico’s ‘Bagong Salta’ is a hybrid presentation of photography and single-channel video works.
In both genres, he continues to explore his alter ego, ‘Manikween,’ an anonymous character that has allowed him to experiment with and express queer identity within broader social spaces.”–Stephanie Frondoso, curator and art writer
Struggle as creative fuel
“Lahat ng natutunan ko last year—yung techniques, images, at kung paano ko sila pinagsasama kahit parang hindi sila bagay—yun talaga ang lumabas sa works ko this year. Medyo nahirapan ako buuin yung mga piraso kasi matagal kong inisip kung paano ipapagsama sa isang work yung aesthetic sensibility ko at yung mga images na ginagamit ko.”–Isabel Reyes Santos, visual artist
Embracing the accidental mark
“Being able to present work at ALT Art 2026 allowed me to further develop my command of monotype printing, a process I began exploring two years ago. Through the curatorial lens of West Gallery’s Soler Santos and Luis Antonio Santos, I challenged my preconceived notions of what a monotype print should look like. I learned to embrace everything that came with the process—errors, accidental marks, and unexpected patterns included.”–Billie Jean Chuaunsu, visual artist
Art beyond the market
“ALT’s Special Projects balances the commercial nature of an art fair. This year, ALT brings a lot of special projects, and we are excited to see the works of Lesly-Anne Cao and Christina Lopez. Their materials and processes are unpredictable. This is the kind of art that excites us.”–Kolown, visual artist
The everyday as metaphor
“I cannot begin to assume what other people’s expectations of my works are, but they will definitely see colors and cake. They might view it as a celebration of a significant moment, feel the tug and pull of desire, or view it as a symbol of contemporary consumerism. I just hope they enjoy the paintings and enjoy ALT Art 2026.”–Yasmin Sison, visual artist
The artist’s inner life
“[West Gallery’s exhibition of Malang’s] drawings reveal the foundations of the work he’s most known for: bursts of color and careful composition. Cubist sensibilities, likely influenced by his favorite artist, Pablo Picasso, and contemporaries such as Ang Kiukok, are apparent in these drawings, which were his way of thinking through his life and work—an expression of his inner life.”–Carina Santos, visual artist and art writer
ALT Art runs from Feb. 12 to 15 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Seashell Lane, Pasay City
