The illustrious collection of broadcast legend Vic Salta is among the special offerings in the 39th León Exchange Online Auction on April 18, 2026, 11 am.
Long before Vic became known for his art involvement, he was a popular DJ for 89.1. For more than 15 years, he was Dyna Records’ Artist and Repertoire (ANR) director, responsible for discovering music artists before the rest of the world caught on. Years of music listening fine-tuned his recognition of the extraordinary, a sense of discernment that led to art collecting.
His retirement from the radio industry led him accidentally into the art industry. Jose Joya, a friend, invited him to sponsor an on-the-spot painting session by the Tuesday Group. He accepted on impulse.
On his first attempt, Vic managed to sell every single piece made by the Tuesday Group.
“I never knew I had business acumen in dealing with art,” he would later say, as recalled by his daughter Nikka Salta-Santos in her León Gallery article. “I was never a salesman. I just discovered that I could convince people to buy an artwork because I liked it. It was a revelation.”
The close friendships with artists he had cultivated through his sponsorships led to the creation of Artistree Fine Art, that housed the works of old and modern Filipino masters with painstaking attention to detail and provenance. He combined music and art.
Vic’s precious collection encapsulates a lifetime involvement in the art industry.
Victorio Edades (1895–1985), ‘Nude,’ signed and dated 1981 (lower right), charcoal on paper, 23” x 19” (58 cm x 48 cm)
Miguel Zaragoza (1842–1923), ‘Untitled,’ signed and dated 1915 (lower right), graphite on paper, 10” x 12” (25 cm x 30 cm)
Dominador Castañeda (1904–1967), ‘Portrait of a Lady,’ signed and dated 1951 (lower left), watercolor on paper, 13” x 9 1/2” (33 cm x 24 cm)
The works of the masters from Salta’s collection in this sale: Fernando Amorsolo’s graphite work Roosters Study; Victorio Edades’ Nude; Miguel Zaragoza’s graphite riverside landscape; and Dominador Castañeda’s watercolor Portrait of a Lady
Rafael Enriquez y Villanueva (1850–1937), ‘Untitled,’ watercolor on paper, 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” (22 cm x 14 cm)
A watercolor by Rafael Enriquez y Villanueva, like many of his works, depicts foreign themes, figures, and scenes—in this case, a figure in Roman toga, a guard standing behind him.
Onib Olmedo (1937–1996), ‘Horse,’ signed and dated 1989 (lower right), pastel on paper, 26” x 41” (66 cm x 104 cm)
Hernando R. Ocampo (1911–1978), ‘Abstract,’ signed and dated 1969 (lower right), watercolor on paper, 15” x 22” (38 cm x 56 cm)
Hernando R. Ocampo (1911–1978), ‘Abstract,’ signed and dated 1974 (lower right), watercolor on paper, 15” x 22” (38 cm x 56 cm)
Modernist artists are also in his collection. Onib Olmedo’s Horse is a rare Olmedo, while two of Hernando R. Ocampo’s abstract works show the modernist’s distinctive handling of colors and hues.
Elias Laxa (1904–1990), ‘Seascape,’ signed and dated 1958 (lower right), oil on canvas, 11” x 14” (28 cm x 36 cm)
Elias Laxa (1904–1990), ‘Seascape,’ signed and dated 11-58 (lower right), oil on canvas, 11” x 14” (28 cm x 36 cm)
Angelito Antonio (1939–2025), ‘Candle Vendor,’ signed and dated 1980 (lower right), oil on canvas, 18 3/4” x 15 3/4” (48 cm x 40 cm)
The seascapes of Elias Laxa portray the artist’s fascination with the sea, while Angelito Antonio’s Candle Vendor shows the artist’s illustrious portrayal of rural folk.
Arturo Luz (1926–2021), ‘Jaipur,’ signed (lower left), dated 1999, Indian handmade paper, 14 1/2” x 10 3/4” (37 cm x 27 cm)
Arturo Luz’s Jaipur, like his Cities of the Past series, is a minimalist distillation of the architecture of Rajasthan, India.
The 39th Leon Exchange Online Auction is on April 18, 2026, 11 am. Preview week is from April 11 to April 17, from 9 am to 7 pm at Warehouse 14, La Fuerza Plaza, 2241 Chino Roces Ave, Makati.
To browse the online catalog, visit https://leon-gallery.com/. For further inquiries, email info@leon-gallery.com or call tel. no. 8856-2781. All bidding will be online at www.leonexchange.com.
