The Ayala Foundation has appointed Reuben Keehan as the incoming artistic director of Kontempo, a new contemporary art space set to open in Manila. Designed by Kulapat Yantrasat of WHY Architecture, the venue will feature over 26,000 square feet of exhibition space across three galleries and nearly four acres of green space for sculptures and installations, located in the Circuit Makati development. Keehan joins from the Queensland Art Gallery / Gallery of Modern Art, where he served as curator of contemporary art, and has curated the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art since 2013.
This appointment signals the Ayala Foundation's ambitious expansion into contemporary art, building on its legacy with the Ayala Museum. Kontempo aims to create a globally engaged, community-focused institution in the Philippines, reflecting the growing international art scene in Manila. The timing coincides with Art Fair Philippines 2026, which is being held at Circuit Makati for the first time, underscoring the area's emergence as a cultural hub.