Ateneo Art Gallery Exhibitions
Upholding a holistic vision of forming men and women for others, the Ateneo de Manila University cultivates a cultural scene within and beyond the community. For decades, the institution’s very own Ateneo Art Gallery has been open to university members and the public free of charge. Locally, it is also widely regarded as the first Philippine museum of modern art.
The Ateneo Art Gallery came to fruition in 1960 when Fernando Zobel, renowned artist and businessman, bequeathed his collection of works by Filipino post war artists to the Ateneo. In the succeeding years, other philanthropists and artists followed suit in entrusting the gallery with their own collections and artworks, expanding its fine collections and archives. The gallery was first erected in Bellarmine Hall then relocated to the university’s Old Rizal Library. Finally, it was moved to the Arts Wing of the new Areté Building in 2017.
The Areté was a feat for the Ateneo being the new creativity and innovation hub of the university. For the Ateneo Art Gallery, which was relocated to its Arts Wing, this also meant an expanded horizon of exciting possibilities.
Today, the art museum showcases its permanent collection in the upper ground and second floor galleries while the third floor galleries showcase changing exhibitions featuring contemporary art projects and thematic and historical exhibits. The Ben Chan ArtSuite serves as the gallery’s multi-purpose venue which hosts educational activities and public programs like workshops, lectures, seminars, and film screenings.
Having hosted a great number of art exhibitions, the Ateneo Art Gallery continues to promote and nurture Philippine arts and culture with a diverse exhibition program. It opened the doors of its new Areté home to the public with Love It and Leave It: A Legacy of Gifts to the Ateneo Art Gallery. This inaugural exhibition focused on the gallery’s growth through the generosity of its donors, as well as the role of philanthropy in the growth of the museum and the establishment of the Areté.
The Ateneo Art Gallery also fosters contemporary artistic expressions, including experimental and interactive works, that are responsive to current social issues. The Ateneo Art Awards, one of the most sought after art prizes since 2004, gives recognition to young contemporary artists through the Fernando Zóbel Prizes in Visual Arts. Moreover, it also cultivates art writing and criticism through the Purita Kalaw-Ledesma Prizes in Art Criticism. Together, these awards help promote the understanding and appreciation of Philippine contemporary art through its exhibitions, publication, and engaged public programs.
In 2018, artist Ryan Villamael adorned the staircase of the Ateneo Art Gallery with his installation Locus Amoenus. Consisting of intricately-cut latticework and handcrafted leaves made of replicas of Philippine geographical maps, the site-specific work looked into the notion of territorial demarcation. Emulating the feeling of being in a greenhouse where tall glass windows and foliage loom over visitors, this installation welcomed each guest who ascended the gallery until 2019.
In 2019, the Ignacio B. Gimenez Outdoor Installation Grant Program was launched to focus on outdoor installation projects in the Areté and support contemporary artists who explore site-specific works. The program's inaugural project Everywhere, There You Are by artists Christina Quisumbing Ramilo and Wawi Navarozza opened possibilities of ephemeral and interactive art within the gallery. Guests were able to walk among and engage with the work’s mass of fishing nets and fabric strips that interacted with the wind.
In 2018 & 2019, the Ateneo Art Gallery began a partnership with Teach for the Philippines, a non-profit organization that works to ensure all Filipino children benefit from an excellent, inclusive, and relevant education. With support from the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, public school children, approximately 500 each year, were given the opportunity to visit the museum for a half day for a guided and engaging experience with contemporary art and its relevance to social issues and their personal concerns.