Aphro in Makati: Where Local Art and Design Meet at Karrivin Plaza
Aphro, located at The Alley at Karrivin Plaza along Chino Roces Avenue Extension in Makati City, is a living art and design space that functions as both an art gallery and retail shop, carrying local artworks, pottery, home accents, functional pieces, and fashion accessories.
Installation view of Slow Burn: Meditations in Clay, 2026/IMAGE from Aphro’s Facebook page
The concept takes its name from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess associated with love and beauty. Aphro was developed by Tina Fernandez, who also founded contemporary art gallery Artinformal. Fernandez envisioned Aphro as an extension of her work in art, bringing artistic objects into a setting where they could also become part of everyday living.
Installation view of Slow Burn: Meditations in Clay, 2026/IMAGE from Aphro’s Facebook page
Its selections have included paintings, sculptures, pottery and ceramics, furniture, bags, accessories, textiles, and other pieces created by local artists and designers. Some of the artists represented in the shop have also worked with Fernandez through Artinformal, while other pieces come from designers whose work she personally selected.
Installation view of YAKISUGI, 2026/IMAGE from Aphro’s Facebook page
The space itself reflects this combination of gallery and shop. Designed by Jagnus Design Studio, Aphro occupies a stepped interior originally developed around references to Jungian archetypes and Greek mythology. One of its distinctive architectural features is a large slide incorporated into the space.
Installation view of YAKISUGI, 2026/IMAGE from Aphro’s Facebook page
Alongside its retail selection, Aphro regularly serves as an exhibition venue. Its exhibitions have covered different artistic disciplines, including ceramics and mixed-media works.
Beginning September 12, 2026, Aphro presents “Return of the Savant-Garde” by multidisciplinary artist Michelline Syjuco, curated by Al Sibal with a soundscape by AG Syjuco. The exhibition opens on Saturday, September 12 at 6:00 p.m.
IMAGE from Aphro’s Facebook page
The exhibition marks Syjuco’s return to wearable art after a decade-long hiatus. The exhibition follows earlier international presentations of her work and continues her examination of material transformation, Philippine mythology, and cultural memory.
The wearable pieces are accompanied by life-sized sculptural forms inspired by creatures from Philippine folklore. The exhibition also features model portraits with actor Ronnie Lazaro and his son, musician and actor Gabriel Lazaro, alongside the installation and AG Syjuco’s soundscape.
Rather than treating objects as fixed forms, Syjuco dismantles and reconstructs them to examine how their meaning, identity, and perceived value can change. The resulting pieces move between art, sculpture, adornment, and design, corresponding with Aphro’s own approach to presenting functional and artistic objects within the same space.
Visitors to Aphro in Makati can browse its changing selection of locally made art and design pieces while also encountering exhibitions within the shop. Its combination of retail, art, and exhibition-making makes it one of the creative spaces to visit while exploring The Alley and the wider Karrivin Plaza compound.
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