León Gallery once again opens another art-filled year with its traditional annual partnership with The Asian Cultural Council to commemorate and celebrate the visionary artistry of Filipino talent.

"There is much to be grateful for and many milestones to remember with our first major auction of the year — the much-awaited Asian Cultural Council Auction of 2024," León Gallery director Jaime Ponce de Leon said.

ACC Philippines chairperson Ernest L. Escaler stressed that the León Gallery and the Asian Cultural Council have, for the past nine years, produced nothing short of a fruitful and "wonderful partnership."

"Filled with gratitude for the year that was, we recommence with greater optimism to move forward building a legacy that espouses the transformative power of the arts," Escaler said.

"As we aim to actualize ACC's mission year after year, we seek the support of like-minded individuals and form alliances along the way to support our advocacy," he added.

"Foremost is our wonderful partnership with Jaime Ponce de Leon and Leon Gallery. Now on our 9th year of collaboration, we extend our deep admiration, respect, and sincere thanks to Jaime and his team for their dedication and tireless effort that makes our fundraising auction an anticipated and successful event," said Escaler.

In this opening salvo for 2024, we celebrate the birth anniversaries of three of our country's modernist stalwarts: Fernando Zóbel's 100th and the 110th of two of his closest friends, Anita Magsaysay-Ho and Nena Saguil. Anita is represented by a rare rendition of the iconic "Planting Rice," while Saguil graces this sale with impeccable works representing her prolific career, starting with her beginnings at the Philippine Art Gallery to her artistry-defining experience as a painter of the École de Paris.

The works of Jose Joya and Roberto Chabet, two former ACC grantees who share the distinction of being the first Filipino recipients in their respective fields (Joya for the Visual Arts and Chabet for Museology, both in 1967), are also equally the centerpieces of this auction.

Of this magnificent full-circle moment, Ponce de Leon said that the Asian Cultural Council Auction is always an occasion close to their hearts because it brings to the forefront the abilities of young Filipino artists.

"In the ACC's honor, works by Jose Joya, their first-ever grantee for the visual arts, are among the highlights, as are important pieces from another ACC grantee, Roberto Chabet," said Ponce de Leon.
The "sun and moon" of Filipino art, Juan Luna and Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, are also represented in this sale. Luna has three works that span important periods in his life: "Landscape in Bilbao," "Ecce Homo," and a lyrical work from his award-winning Roman period, titled "Idilio."

A portion of the proceeds from this annual auction will help fund various ACC grants for Filipino and other Asian artists and arts-based practitioners.