Ayala Foundation, a leading philanthropic organization in the Philippines, has announced Reuben Keehan as artistic director of Kontempo, a forthcoming center for contemporary art in Manila. 

Deriving its name from “contemporary” in Filipino, Kontempo will comprise three gallery spaces spanning approximately 2,500 square meters, as well as 15,000 additional square meters of outdoor space for installations and public gardens. Designed by WHY Architecture’s Kulapat Yantrasast in collaboration with Lor Calma & Partners, the center will anchor the Circuit Makati Cultural District, an art, entertainment, and culture hub dubbed Manila’s “lifestyle playground.” The institution will present exhibitions, commissions, research, and community programs, building on Ayala Foundation’s stewardship of cultural institutions including the Ayala Museum and the Filipinas Heritage Library.

Keehan, a curator and writer specializing in contemporary Asian art, is relocating from Australia, where he served as curator of contemporary art at Brisbane’s Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) for over a decade. He was instrumental in developing the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art from its seventh through 11th editions and has contributed to various international exhibitions, such as “YAYOI KUSAMA: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow” at National Gallery Singapore (2017–18) and “Roppongi Crossing 2013: OUT OF DOUBT” at Mori Art Museum, Tokyo.

In a press release, Keehan stated: “The idea of Kontempo as a connective hub that brings artists and audiences together, encourages dialogue across disciplines, and links the Philippines with the wider world is what drew me to this project. I am excited to work with communities, stakeholders, and future partners in the Philippines and beyond to shape an institution that is responsive, open, and meaningfully engaged with its context.”

Aisha Traub Chan is an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.