Makati Museums & Galleries that Bring Out the Inner Artist in You

Contributed by The Wandering Roomies

Here’s another ‘Where To Go’ post. This time, we’ll be focusing on museums and art galleries we know in Makati. Some of them we’ve been to, others we haven’t because there were either no exhibits or we couldn’t go.

Well, how did we come up with this list? I was browsing through the net because I wanted to go to Yuchengco and Ayala Museum but, I was not satisfied if we will just leave it at that. So I search for other places we could go – to my surprise, there were many art galleries in Makati! That’s basically how this list started.

Also read: 8 Galleries in Manila to Unleash Your Inner Artist

Being a total newbie with art galleries, I learned that:

1. There were no entrance fees in art galleries (well, basing from the four that I’ve been to)
2. You should keep check if there are ongoing exhibits before you visit
3. Red stickers mean the artwork is sold, yellow stickers mean the artwork is reserved

So without further adieu, we present this to you:

1. Yuchengco Museum

Address: RCBC Plaza, Corner Ayala Avenue and Senator Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati
Schedule: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm
Entrance Fee: ₱100 for Adults, ₱50 Students (with ID)
Contact: (02) 889 1234
Website: Yuchengco Museum

Raya says: A nice place to go to – especially for quiet time. I was entertained by the interactive displays in the Samsung Gallery. But one thing that surely struck us is the detailed carvings in the elephant tusk that we saw.

Paula says: It was the perfect place for me-time, casually strolling around while taking in the paintings and displays. I loved the Samsung Gallery!

2. Ayala Museum

Address: Makati Avenue corner Dela Rosa Street, Greenbelt Park, 1224 Makati
Schedule: Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 6pm
Entrance Fee: (Residents) ₱225 for Adults and ₱125 for Students/Senior Citizens; (Non-residents) ₱425 for Adults and ₱300 for Students/Senior Citizens
Contact: (02) 759 8288
Facebook: The Ayala Museum

Raya says: I was surprised by the displays in this museum. We were not allowed to take pictures in the other floors but for me, the fourth floor was the best one. Paula and I spent most of our time there. I also liked the second floor, where in there were mini dioramas which illustrated our history. According to Paula, this was the museum we’ve stayed the longest so far.

Paula says: This was enormous. I particularly enjoyed the 4th floor which housed displays of Philippine’s pre-colonial gold and artefacts.

Also read: Asia’s Weirdest Museums that Are Totally Worth a Visit

3. Prism Gallery**

Exhibit (at that time): Cut & Paste: A Papercut Exhibition

Address: Island Tower Condomimium, Salcedo St. San Lorenzo, 1223 Makati
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm; Saturday, 9am to 6pm
Contact: (02) 886 3947
Facebook: Prism Gallery

Raya says: My favourite exhibit thus far! I was really amazed by the papercut exhibit 🙂

Paula says: The exhibits were so pretty! If only I had the money, I would buy one artwork. Personnel of the area also mentioned that there are workshops every now and then, which was really interesting. 🙂

4. Tin-Aw Gallery**

Exhibit (at that time): UnHedged by Alwin Reamillo

Address: Upper Ground Floor, Somerset Olympia Makati Avenue, Makati
Schedule: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm
Contact: (02) 892 7522
Website: tin-aw.com

Raya says: I felt bad for not knowing this place sooner – I used to pass by here last January when I was having my internship. Had I known that there was a gallery there I would have gone there.

Paula says: My favourite thing about this was the cute little hedgehog! ❤ I love the concept of the displays and the creativity of the maker for using old money. 🙂

5. Finale Art File**

Exhibit (at that time): Pull Recovery by various artists, Dear Artist by Lyra Garcellano and Aphrodisiacremix by Wire Tuazon

Address: Warehouse 17, La Fuerza Compound, 2241 Chino Roces, Makati
Schedule: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm
Contact: (02) 813 2310; (02) 812 5034
Website: Finale Art File

Raya says: Biggest gallery I’ve been to so far. I saw three exhibits in one place! I was struck by the Dear Artist exhibit. 🙂

Jez says: I like how everything’s spaced out so well, so you get to appreciate each piece without the other pieces distracting it. There’s also the bench thing in the centre. It’s nice for contemplation and conversation. The exhibits are really well made too. It’s fun to just stare and try to figure out how they painted it.

6. NOVA Gallery**

Exhibit (at that time): Not Only Vaulting Ambition by Nobuhiko Terasawa

Address: Warehouse 12 A La Fuerza Plaza Compound, 2241Chino Roces, Makati
Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Contact: (02) 659 3697
Website: NOVA Gallery

Raya says: This was interesting. At first, I really didn’t get their connection with each other – but when I read the description, the symbolism made sense – in a way. Decay, shine and flatness.

7. The Collective

Address: 7274 Malugay St. San Antonio Village, 1203 Makati
Facebook: The Collective

Raya says: I went here back in 2014 to attend a party with a friend. It’s not a gallery but the graffiti on the walls and the shops are art related so I included it here. Although I’m not one for parties, I was really glad to go here. I had fun and enjoyed going around the place with my friend! ❤

**Gallery pictures will depend on the exhibit

Also read: 20 Instagram-Worthy Spots in Metro Manila

As we’ve said earlier, we included art galleries we haven’t been to — yet. 🙂
Just in case you wanna check them out, here they are:

1. Silverlens Gallery

Address: 2320 Pasong Tamo Extension, Warehouse 2, Yupangco Building, Makati
Schedule: Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 7pm; Saturday, 10am to 6pm
Contact: (02) 816 0044
Website: Silverlens; Facebook

2. The Drawing Room

Address: 1007 Metropolitan Avenue, Metrostar Building, Makati
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm; Saturday 10am to 5pm
Contact: (02) 897 7877
Website: The Drawing Room; Facebook

3. Art Cube

Address: Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, 1224 Makati
Schedule: Monday to Sunday; 10am to 9pm
Contact: (02) 752 9089
Website: ArtCube Philippines; Facebook

4. Vinyl on Vinyl

Address: 2135 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati
Schedule: Tuesday to Saturday, 12nn to 7pm
Website: Vinyl on Vinyl; Facebook

5. Galleria Nicolas

Address: 3/F Art Space, Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati
Schedule: Daily, 10am to 9pm
Contact: (02) 625 0273
Website: Galleria Nicolas; Facebook

6. Altromondo

Address: 3F, Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati
Schedule: Daily, 11am to 8pm
Contact: (02) 501 3270
Website: Altromondo; Facebook

Address: 4F, The Picasso Boutique Serviced Residences, 119 L.P. Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati
Schedule: Daily, 10am to 7pm
Contact: (02) 828 4774

7. Gallery BiG

Address: 2/F LRI Design Plaza, 210 N. Garcia St., Bel-Air, 1209 Makati
Schedule: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm
Contact: (02) 666 7755
Website: Gallery Big; Facebook

8. Restock Curiosities*

Address: 7635 Guijo Street, Makati, 1203 Manila
Schedule: Monday to Saturday, 12nn to 10pm
Contact: 0917 663 1011
Website: Facebook; Instagram
*Actually it’s a cafe with art

Always wondering where to wander next,
Paula and Raya