ART, ART, AND MORE ART
Birthday celebrators Jaime Ponce de Leon and Albert Avellana
Jaime Ponce de Leon, founding director of the Leon Gallery, has made a name for himself with the resounding success of his auction house, recognized as one of the country’s leading cultural havens and purveyors of art. With partner Robbie Santos, the amiable Jaime marked his birthday with a cocktail party and was surrounded by VIP guests, composed of art collectors, lovers of art, and prominent society figures.
Arguably, the Leon Gallery has achieved the highest art sales, with world records for having sold 11 out of 12 most expensive paintings in the country. Jaime’s expertise brings one closer to experiencing the ultimate in art. His gallery provides a diverse take on vibrant cultures through its collection of paintings, sculptures, antiques, and jewelry. On the gallery’s walls hung important portraits by no less than Juan Luna y Novicio and Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto.
The art enthusiasts enjoyed the sumptuous Italian fare by Gaita Fores. Scattered around the gallery were stations of carvings of proscuito jamon, prime rib, and five-spice ducks. There was a pasta station with lobster spaghettini, truffle and cream cheese crepe, and insalate de mare. A classical quintet and two DJs provided the entertainment.
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Soft-spoken and with a winning smile, art broker Albert Avellana is blessed with a combination of talent, creativity, and originality. Albert has always followed his own path. Over the years, his creative spirit has endured, a demonstration of his genuine passion for the arts. Recently, for his 55th birthday, he hosted a party at his Avellana Art Gallery, which coincided with the opening of an exhibit of 30 artists. With his charming personality, he mingled with the guests, composed of artists, designers, art collectors, relatives, and friends. While sipping red wine, the invitees wandered through the different rooms of the two-story gallery, with its turn-of-the-century ambience that added character to the different artists’ works on display.
On exhibit was a group called Pula, composed of various artists, namely Ral Arrogante, Kiko Arnaez, Pandy Aviado, Jesus Bermudez, Suzette Bernardo Montelibano, Ivi Avellana Cosio, Jonathan Castro, Joey Cobcobo, FB Concepcion, Allana Cosio, Gary Custodio, Joey de Castro, Ferdinand Doctolero, Noell El Farol, Henri Eteve, Isagani Fuentes, Dei Jardiniano, Eugene Jarque, Allain Hablo, Tuchi Imperial, Jojo Lofranco, Francesca Balaguer-Mercado, Alrashdi Mohammad, Lynyrd Paras, Impy Pilapil, Pidge Reyes, Dan Raralio, Ryan Rubio, Rosario Sanchez, Lisa Suarez, Benjie Torrado, Clairelynn Uy, and Mac Valdezco.
Albert’s gallery is relationship-based and boasts of no contracts with the various artists on display. He has helped cultivate an appetite for fine-art collecting. One can see that art feeds his soul and is the foundation of everything he does.
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