Focus Art Fair 2025 yields strong buzz and promising leads for Filipino art

It was an auspicious debut for the Philippines at the recently concluded Focus Art Fair. 

The 2025 edition of the leading Asian contemporary art event, which ran from October 16-19 at the Saatchi Gallery in London, attracted art collectors, curators, interior designers, writers, and producers from all over the globe, particularly Malaysia, Australia, France, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, the US, and Turkey. Its wide reach thus provided the nine participating Filipino artists with an international platform to present excellent Filipino artistry as well as the complex tapestry of the Filipino identity. 

Titled “Textures of Identity: Echoes in the Material,” the Philippine delegation’s exhibit for the prestigious affair wove together each of the artists’ respective personal narratives with the collective Filipino memory. Artworks by leading Filipino contemporary art figures Junyee, Dino Gabito, Gus Albor, Anna Bautista, Marrie Saplad, Pongbayog, Raffy Napay, Demi Padua, and Doktor Karayom presented a mélange of textures and subtle expressions that defy the easy definition and categorization of what it means to be Filipino. 

It was a well-received presentation, lauded for its clean and straightforward setup that kept the spotlight on the artworks. Doktor Karayom’s installation “PRTKSYN,” in particular, drew attention from visitors with its evocative quality, aided by his signature use of vivid red. Demi Padua’s “Revitalized” artwork also received praise as one of the best pieces on display for its masterful merging of illusion and structure. The Philippines’ strong showing at Focus Art Fair paved the way for the artists to network with both local and international buyers and find promising leads. Even the Largo two-seater by the Cebu-based Finali Furniture, Inc. garnered buyer interest from the guests.

In fact, prior to the opening of Focus Art Fair 2025, Marrie Saplad’s painting, “One and The Same Spirit II,” was prominently featured in the event’s promotional initiative to place ads along commuter routes. This indicated how the organizers already held Philippine art in high regard as a magnet for high attendance. 

The positive reception to the Philippine delegation is a relevant accomplishment, given the more than 50 exhibitors from 15 countries joining this year’s Focus Art Fair. The 2025 edition also welcomed more than 10,000 visitors during its run, resulting in a significant increase in artwork sales for the participating artists and galleries; per the organizer’s official post-event report, the fair achieved over £600,000 in artwork sales. Beyond sales figures, however, are the opportunities for Filipino artists to forge partnerships and collaborations with international cultural institutions, aided by the expanded media visibility provided by the event.

The Philippines’ participation in Focus Art Fair 2025 is championed by the Center for International Trade and Exposition Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). One of CITEM’s initiatives is CREATEPhilippines, the Philippines’ first government-led content and community platform that champions the country’s creative industries as a high-potential export sector and driver of economic growth. It advocates for Filipino creatives from various disciplines by organizing programs that connect them with potential clients, mentors, collaborators, and investors. 

The country’s favorable showing in its first Focus Art Fair is an encouraging sign for its further participation in more international art fairs and similar events. In fact, the art fair’s organizers, led by Focus Art Fair co-founder and Director Sungmin Hong, already extended an invitation to CITEM to participate in its 2026 edition in New York, where the Filipino community and culture have a strong presence and representation. Next year’s Focus Art Fair promises to be an even bigger platform: With contemporary Asian art highly resonant and sought after in the US and European markets, the organizers pledge to promote not just Philippine art but Filipino culture as a whole. Thus, the country’s presence in next year’s iteration will open opportunities for stakeholders in CITEM’s signature events and brands, such as IFEX Philippines, Manila FAME, and CREATEPhilippines. 

CITEM and CREATEPhilippines are looking forward to supporting more Filipino artists as they build their global presence and raise the Philippines’ profile as a veritable hub of creativity and ingenuity. 

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Photos by Rowena Mendoza.

As the country's first government-led content and community platform for the local creative industries, CREATEPhilippines is the ultimate resource for stories and updates on the Philippines' creative community and a centralized directory and sourcing platform where Filipino creatives can share their portfolio and engage with a global audience.

CREATEPhilippines is a promotional program for the creative industry by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), the export promotion arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).