The Asian Cultural Council (ACC) once known as Rockefeller Foundation, in partnership with León Gallery, hosted a cocktail to preview the amazing artworks that had its first live auction event of the year at Leon Gallery on March 5.

ACC Manila provides artists, scholars, and arts professionals opportunities for transformative exchange between the Philippines and the United States, as well as the Philippines and the rest of Asia. Since 1963, it has supported more than 300 exchanges of individuals from the Philippines.

Filipino artists who have received grants include Jose Joya (the program’s first grantee), Roberto Chabet, Patrick Flores, Gino Gonzales, Jojo Legaspi, and the younger generation, iWawi Navarroza, Lyra Garcellano, Dexter Fernandez, Leeroy New, Aze Ong, Mideo Cruz, Noel Cuizon, Don Salubayba, Anton del Castillo, Amiel Roldan, and Nikki Luna, among others.

This exciting auction will have the artworks of globally old masters, renowned contemporary artists, and heirloom items from old families of old Manila.

There are works from Ronald Ventura and National Artist for Visual Arts Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera as well as Juan Luna and Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo, who were the very first Filipino artists to make a name for themselves on the international stage.

A portrait of the late President Ramon Magsaysay will also be up for bids. Proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit both ACC and Ramon Magsaysay Foundation.

Ang Kiukok’s “Rosary Queen” from his iconic series of the same name will also be auctioned.

This auction will once more be filled with prized possessions with impeccable provenance from Manila’s crème de la crème; the 20 artworks from the collection one of Manila’s last great society doyennes, Nene Tuason-Quimson who passed away late last year.
Two Fernando Amorsolo paintings of Tambunting women are up for auction.

Belonging to Manila’s elite, the two women are Dona Aurora Tambunting and daughter Teresita “Tereret” Tambunting Liboro.
A complete ivory bulto depicting San Antonio and Niño from Benito J. Legarda Jr.’s collection, which is one of the few ivory santos collected by the late polymath.

This auction will also be offering a Joya masterpiece from the collection of dauntless journalist Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc and formerly in the Museum of
Philippine Art collection.

A part of the proceeds from this auction will be donated to ACC to help subsidize its grants for Filipino and other Asian artists and arts-based practitioners.

Congratulations to Jaime Ponce De Leon, the man behind Leon Gallery for his shared commitment to championing Filipino artistry and creativity.