The Cultural Center of the Philippines has a new top art boss. The premier cultural institution named Carlos Quijon, Jr. as the new Chief Curator of the CCP Contemporary Art Museum.
Quijon is an art historian, critic, and curator. His vision will guide how the CCP exhibits its vast contemporary art collection.
The appointment arrives at a vital moment for the institution. The CCP will reopen its main building to the public in the first quarter of 2027. The structure underwent careful conservation and rehabilitation work that began in 2021. Those repairs followed safety inspections in 2015 and 2018.
“As we prepare for the reopening of the CCP next year, we are not only boosting our facilities that will host our audiences and the public, but also our lineup of visionaries who will curate and conceptualize art exhibitions and performances that we can truly be proud of,” said CCP President Kaye C. Tinga.
“We’re glad to welcome Carlos into our artistic family,” Tinga added. “We know that we will learn from his global experiences, as much as he will also be inspired by our contemporary art collection.”
Quijon brings an international portfolio to Manila. He recently worked at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He served there as the inaugural C-MAP Fellow for Southeast and East Asia.
He also curated the Philippine Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale in 2024. That project featured the artwork of Mark Salvatus.
Beyond New York and Venice, Quijon has curated shows in São Paulo, Seoul, Busan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Manila. He has also completed art fellowships and residencies in museums across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Quijon possesses deep knowledge of Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art. He understands transregional art histories and global curatorial practices. He also knows regional artistic infrastructures very well.
“I’m excited to join the CCP as their new chief curator as it enters its new era,” Quijon said.
“As a practitioner, I believe in CCP’s role in advocating for and enriching the artistic sensibilities of our Filipino artists and promoting them to our local public and our international audiences, as well,” he added. “The goal is to strengthen the place of the CCP in national and regional conversations around contemporary art.”
The CCP holds one of the biggest contemporary art collections in the Philippines. The institution gathered these pieces between the 1960s and the 1980s.
The CCP 21AM Visual Arts Collection alone contains more than 2,000 artworks.
People can visit the official CCP website or social media pages to learn more about the center and its Visual Arts and Museum Division.
CCP Names Carlos Quijon, Jr. Chief Curator
