Art/Style/Travel Diaries

Salcedo opens 2026 auction season with nearly a thousand lots

Amorsolo, Zobel headline much-anticipated Well-Appointed Life featuring fine art, furniture, decorative objects, rare collectibles

Asia Society Philippines managing director and country manager Natalie Christine ‘Ching' Jorge and Salcedo Auctions chairman and chief specialist Ramon E.S. ‘Richie’ Lerma open 'The Well-Appointed Life.'

Salcedo Auctions welcomed collectors, patrons, and friends of the arts to the vernissage of The Well-Appointed Life, its first major sale of the year, last 5 March 2026.

Anvil Business Club

Bonie Mercado, Paulino Que, Pico Gonzales

Held at Salcedo Auctions’ expansive galleries at NEX Tower, Ayala Avenue, the exclusive preview gave guests a good glimpse of one of the auction house’s most diverse and compelling selections. Nearly a thousand lots of fine art, furniture, decorative objects, and rare collectibles are presented across three upcoming sales—an online 10 am Morning Sale, and a live and online marquee 2 pm Afternoon Sale on Saturday, March 14, followed by a special online Sunday Sale at 2 pm on March 15. The packed schedule reflects the enduring appeal of collecting as a barometer of taste and the community’s trust in the leading auction house as platform for the acquisition of valuable collectibles, and in its legacy of authenticity.

Lucy Consunji, Tara Reyes

Happy Ongpauco-Tiu and Richie Lerma

Among the standout works unveiled during the evening were National Artist H. R. Ocampo’s evocative 1969 Summer Landscape and Fernando Zóbel’s lyrical 1966 Carretera de Valencia, two exceptional examples from the The Well-Appointed Life Afternoon Sale that underscore the depth and historical importance of Philippine modernism. There are also luminous works by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, whose romantic portrayals of rural life are seen in two oils on canvas dated 1948 and 1957, as well as notable paintings by academic masters Félix Martinez and Toribio Herrera, offering glimpses into early Philippine art traditions.

Myra Villarroel, Cynthia Nakpil, Cecille Reynoso, Paul Campos

Guests at the Ayala Gallery, with stunning displays of fine art from the masters in the background

Modern and contemporary voices are equally well represented, with striking works by Lao Lianben, Ronald Ventura, Jigger Cruz, and Rodel Tapaya drawing attention for their distinctive visual languages. Pieces by Romulo Olazo, Lee Aguinaldo, Oscar Zalameda, Cenon Rivera, Mauro “Malang” Santos, Onib Olmedo, and National Artists Federico Aguilar Alcuaz and BenCab enrich the presentation, demonstrating the range and vitality of Philippine art across generations.

Oscar Peñaranda and Vicky Lopez-Tuazon

Natalia Peña and Junie Peña

The evening also marked the unveiling of Form & Faith: Ritual, Power, and Symbol in Philippine Art, a special exhibition presented in collaboration with Asia Society Philippines as Education & Program Partner. Bringing together sculptural and cultural objects that span ethnographic artifacts, ecclesiastical works, and contemporary pieces, the exhibition explores how symbolism, spirituality, and ritual continue to shape artistic expression in the Philippines. The display adds a thoughtful curatorial dimension to The Well-Appointed Life, situating many of the works within broader narratives of identity, belief, and craftsmanship.

Guests enjoy an exclusive first look at ‘Form & Faith’ during its opening.

Veronica Dayrit, Angelyn Marquez, Cian Dayrit

The public preview for The Well-Appointed Life is now officially open. Visitors may explore the full selection of works daily from 9 am to 6 pm at Salcedo Auctions, NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Avenue, Makati City. The exhibition runs every day including Sunday, with the gallery closed on Monday.

View the full ‘The Well-Appointed Life’ catalogues online:
AFTERNOON SALE | Sat 14 March, 2 pm | Live and pnline (Lots 1–252)
https://bit.ly/AfternoonSale-March2026

MORNING SALE | Sat 14 March, 10 am | Online (Lots 301–574)
https://bit.ly/MorningSale-March2026

SUNDAY SALE | Sun 15 March, 2 pm | Online (Lots 601–833)
https://bit.ly/SundaySale-March2026

For inquiries, please contact info@salcedoauctions.com or call tel. no.  (+63 917) 894-6550.


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