Works by Asian Cultural Council (ACC) fellows will form part of the auction lots to be bid out during León Gallery’s annual auction for the benefit of the ACC Philippines’ Fellowship Program on Feb. 23.

Included in the auction will be works by ACC fellows Ambie Abaño, Anton del Castillo, Noel Soler Cuizon, Dexter Fernandez, Riel J. Hilario, Leeroy New and Samuel Penaso.

According to Tess Rances of ACC Philippines Foundation, since 1963 ACC has been supporting Filipino artists in their pursuit of cultural exchange through research, studies and residencies anywhere in the United States or any country across Asia through the ACC fellowship grant.

Alumni fellows of the ACC include National Artist for the Visual Arts Jose Joya for Visual Arts; National Artists for Music Lucresia Kasilag, Jose Maceda and Ramon Santos for Music; National Artist for Dance Alice Reyes for Dance, and recently proclaimed National Artist for Cinema Kidlat Tahimik.

Alumni have also included those from theater, literature, architecture and the multimedia.

Del Castillo said the fellowship helped him in his art career. “Not only did the ACC grant take me to various places across the US, but it also took me to a whole other world of art that I wouldn’t have known were it not for ACC. The opportunity to explore various museums across the country left me with knowledge that would prove useful to my practice throughout the years. I may have only stayed in New York for a short while, but the six-month residency provided by the ACC changed my views on art, and hence my life, forever.”

A special preview of the auction pieces starts Feb. 16 at León Gallery, G/F, Eurovilla 1, Rufino and Legazpi Streets, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

Meanwhile ACC and León will share a booth during the 7th Art Fair Philippines at The Link, Ayala Center, Makati, Feb. 21-24. –CONTRIBUTED
Visit www.leon-gallery.com, www.asianculturalcouncil.org, www.artfairphilippines.com.