In the 39th León Exchange Online Auction, León Gallery presents a selection that moves seamlessly across eras, from early cartography to contemporary canvases—pieces that feel as relevant in a modern home as they are in the broader canon of Philippine art.
Ronald Ventura (b. 1973)
Untitled
signed and dated 2014 (lower right)
oil on canvas
11 3/4” x 16” (30 cm x 41 cm)
A defining highlight is the collection of Vic Salta, whose path into the art world reads like a story of instinct over intention. Formerly a disk jockey and record executive for 89.1, Salta cultivated an eye shaped by proximity to masters, such as José Joya and his Tuesday Group. What began as an “accidental” pursuit evolved into a deeply personal archive of works distinguished by both pedigree and presence—paintings that hold their own whether in a private study or a pared-back, contemporary space.
From the vibrant abstractions of H.R. Ocampo to the foundational modernism of Victorio Edades, alongside pieces by Miguel Zaragoza, Elias Laxa, and Angelito Antonio, the collection offers a compelling study in how legacy can still feel current.
Hernando R. Ocampo (1911 – 1978)
Abstract
signed and dated 1974 (lower right)
watercolor on paper
15” x 22” (38 cm x 56 cm)
Elsewhere, the auction expands to a broader cultural mix. A collaboration between Cesar Legaspi and Justin Nuyda anchors the sale in postwar innovation, while works by Emmanuel Garibay and a sculptural piece by Eduardo Castrillo comprise enduring narratives of identity and form. A morphism work by Ronald Ventura introduces a distinctly global, contemporary edge.
What makes this edition particularly resonant is its fluid approach to collecting. Religious sculptures and heritage pieces—a rebulto of the Inmaculada, a carved wooden ivory face, a 19th-century altar frontal—sit comfortably alongside lifestyle objects that signal a collector’s broader sensibility. A rare 18th-century map of Manila from Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien by François Valentijn, engraved by Jan van Braam, feels less like a relic and more like a statement piece—history reframed for a contemporary wall.
Cesar Legaspi (1917 – 1994)
Justin Nuyda (1944 – 2022)
Nude
signed and dated 1974 (lower right)
oil on wood
32” x 24” (81 cm x 61 cm)
Even the finishing touches carry this same balance of form and function: a Panerai Radiomir, a set of 99 Philippine one-peso coins, fine tableware, and a natural ruby ring—all objects that blur the line between everyday luxury and collectible design. They suggest a lifestyle where art is not confined to frames and pedestals, but integrated in the rituals of daily life.
Fernando Amorsolo (1892 – 1972)
Roosters Study
undated
graphite on paper
8” x 10” (20 cm x 25 cm)
In its 39th iteration, León Exchange feels less like a traditional auction and more like a carefully edited offering—one that invites collectors to live with art, not just acquire it.
Panerai Radiomir
Year: 1930s
Movement: Manual winding
Functions: Time with subsidiary seconds
Case: Stainless steel, cushion-shaped, with wire lugs; screw-down case back
Case diameter: 45 mm
Bezel: Smooth
Dial: Black, with luminous Arabic numerals and baton hour markers; subsidiary seconds at 9 o’clock; sandwich construction
Signature: Dial, case and movement signed
Strap/Bracelet: Black leather strap with pin buckle
with original box and original papers
The Preview Exhibit will run from April 11 to 17 at León Gallery – La Fuerza LeónExchange 39 will be happening on April 18, 2026 | 11:00 AM (GMT+8)
