As another fruitful year comes to an end, Leon Gallery remains steadfast in its commitment to showcase the brilliance of Filipino artists through the highly anticipated The Kingly Treasures Auction 2025, set to take place on December 6.
In this momentous sale, Leon Gallery proudly presents masterpieces from the country’s acclaimed modernists, Hernando R. Ocampo and Ang Kiukok, all from the treasure trove of an art enthusiast and collector, a beloved friend, Anna Dominique Marquez-Lim Coseteng. Popularly known as “Nikki” in both the political and art spheres, she is one of the first of her generation of idiosyncratic collectors.
Business and art
Born into one of the affluent families of mid-century Philippines, Nikki possessed a distinct class, an eye for the arts, and a wide range of associates, which made her the esteemed collector she is today. Her upbringing also enabled her to engage and excel in different fields.
A print of Children Playing (May 23, 1977) from H.R. Ocampo—or Nanding, to Nikki
Coseteng, “One of my favorite human beings.”
She belonged to a family of businesspeople, politicians, and sports and arts enthusiasts. The daughter of Emerson Coseteng, founder of Mariwasa Manufacturing Inc. in 1966, which would become the biggest tile company in Asia, Nikki inherited his business acumen. Like him, she also has an affection for sports. Emerson is credited as the founding father of the Philippine Basketball Association, with his team, the Mariwasa Hondas, playing in the league’s inaugural game in 1975. Nikki became the team manager, and later owner of the Mariwasa team, which would eventually be renamed after the gallery she established, Galerie Dominique.
Nikki’s mother is Alice Guanco Marquez-Lim, a renowned columnist for the Manila Chronicle and Philippine Graphic. She also authored several volumes on Philippine modern art and on Philippine art criticism. Alice served as chair of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, wherein she spearheaded various projects, including the writing and production of the landmark work “Spanish Churches of the Philippines.”
Nikki Coseteng (in black) with Ang Kiukok to her left and other friends
It was through her mother that Nikki was introduced to the hurly-burly of Philippine art. Alice was an art enthusiast herself and would take her to meet-ups and several occasions with art and antiques dealers, as well as artist friends. One of the most significant occurrences to ever come out of these meetings was Nikki’s friendship with Hernando R. Ocampo, one of her mother’s close friends from her journalistic cliques.
H.R. was one of the leading Filipino modernists of his time and beyond, known for his unique canvases offering a harmonious blend of form and color. However, for Nikki, behind the formidable artist was a very gentle and kind uncle with a blindingly bright smile, who always served ice cream.
From her high school years to the early beginnings of martial law, Nikki would frequent H.R.’s house and studio in Caloocan. Her mother’s friendship with H.R. allowed her to watch the artist at work, revel in his masterly works, and get to know him on a personal level. Their closeness was evident in the number of drawings and paintings H.R. gave her, and in the way Nikki could easily coax him to paint in a particular shade to expand her collection or put up in her gallery.
Nikki’s interest and involvement in the art scene grew as she became acquainted with the members of the noble Saturday Group of Artists led by H.R., and included art critics Leo Benesa and Rod Paras-Perez, and artists Ang Kiukok, Cesar Legaspi, Mauro Malang Santos, and Romulo Olazo, among others.
Nikki Coseteng with H.R. Ocampo
These fateful encounters and relationships not only blessed Nikki’s eyes with brilliant masterpieces, but also sparked her desire to collect art and taught her what there is to learn in the art of collecting.
Nikki grew up during modernism’s heyday in the Philippines; canvases were filled with bursts of color, and geometric forms and fractured planes punctuated the Philippine art scene. This was where her inclination to modernist-style works developed. And even with the many artworks and styles she had seen in her travels abroad, she was nonetheless more drawn to H.R. and Kiukok’s works. Nikki especially found the former’s works to be more soothing, less jarring and confrontational.
H. R. Ocampo (1911-1978), Kalaanan, signed and dated 1968 (lower right), oil on canvas,
30” x 40” (76 cm x 102 cm). Property of the Nikki Coseteng Collection
In this year’s The Kingly Treasures Auction, Nikki teams up with Leon Gallery to showcase Filipino talent and ingenuity in the field of visual arts, as H.R. and Kiukok masterworks from her cherished collection go on sale.
Lot 58
One of the highlights of this collection is H.R. Ocampo’s Kalaanan. Painted in 1968, this piece was a pivotal moment in H.R.’s professional career, marking his retirement from years of advertising work to dedicate his life to full-time painting. This work, with its vibrant colors and dynamic composition, also pays homage to the artist’s hometown of Caloocan, the title bearing the town’s old name.
Ang Kiukok’s dauntless colorism, fractured planes, and sharp lines are always a sight to behold in his canvases. His unique cubist composition and imposing color schemes deconstruct familiar sights and scenes, transforming them into an abstract lens, as seen in his Still Life, rendered in 1977. In Window (1978), on the other hand, Kiukok attempted to explore and confront the inner states of fear, tension, and transition.
Nikki’s utmost enthusiasm for art became the catalyst for the establishment of Galerie Dominique, which focused on Philippine modern art. Indeed, opening her own gallery would not make her earn as much money as their trail of family businesses. Still, Nikki was fortunate enough to receive their full support in this endeavor, as they knew it was what she wanted to do and would make her happy.
Galerie Dominique, founded in the house she inherited from her grandmother Judith, contains her treasured art collection, which she accumulated over the years. It was her residence and her art sanctuary—her home. Through the gallery, Nikki also organized numerous exhibitions and workshops, sharing the beauty of Philippine art with the public and supporting aspiring artists in pursuing their dreams. Her dedication and enthusiasm have significantly contributed to the promotion and appreciation of Philippine modern art.
Leon Gallery’s The Kingly Treasures Auction 2025 will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 2 PM. The preview exhibit will run from November 29 to December 5, from 9 AM to 7 PM, at G/F Eurovilla 1, Rufino corner Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
To browse the online catalog, visit https://leon-gallery.com/. For further inquiries, email info@leon-gallery.com or contact 8856 2781. Follow León Gallery on their social media pages for timely updates: Facebook: www.facebook.com/leongallerymakati and Instagram @leongallerymakati.
