Newsman Julius Babao has many pursuits and interests—from a YouTube channel for sneakerheads to collecting toys, tending a garden and assembling a fine art collection. Going around his home is a veritable museum tour. 

This month, ANCX collaborates with top auction house Leon Gallery for its Spectacular Mid Year Auction on June 20, and we asked influential names who love art to choose their top picks among 125 auction pieces. Julius is one of them. 

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• What would they bid on? Kim Atienza’s picks from Leon Gallery’s Spectacular Mid Year Auction
• This wacky Pinoy online gallery makes fun of toilet paper hoarders with toilet paper art
• Own a print from your favorite Filipino photographer through this awesome initiative
• While galleries remain closed, Silverlens opens a show geared to bring art closer to the viewer

More than a platform for the buy and sell of art and antiquities, Leon Gallery has showcased the best in Philippine Art from the masters of yore to the contemporary superstars of today. Viewing their auction pieces is like going to a major art exhibit and is an enthralling visual treat and history lesson for buyers and non-buyers alike.

Here are Julius’s top choices.

Andres Barrioquinto

Andres Barrioquinto was dubbed the dark man of Philippine Art in the 90s. His strokes and colors were wild and painterly back then. Once in a while he goes back to doing paintings like this which I believe is really the core of the artist.

Spectator by Mark Justiniani 

The intricate details of this artwork is superb. Mark Justiniani is known for his whimsical subjects which he injects with social narrative and his personal commentaries. This is definitely one of his best works.

The Audacious Future by Mark Aran Reyes

A beautiful minimalist surrealist painting by a very talented young artist. He is young but his limited artworks have already made a mark among art afficionados. One can never go wrong with any of his paintings.

Before We Leave by Zean Cabangis

He is one of my favorite painters. He juxtaposes photographic images with geometric and linear patterns in his artworks. There are so many things happening in this painting but surprisingly the outcome is in equilibrium.

Goddesses by Malang, Ang Kiukok, Yonzon

In the years that I have known Malang and Kiukok—who are my wedding godfathers—I have never seen an interaction between these two. This is truly a remarkable and collectible piece of art and history by three great artists.

Before We Leave by Zean Cabangis

Signed and dated 2019 (verso), mixed media, 72” x 48” (183 cm x 122 cm). Starting Bid Rate Below.

Php 700,000

Register now to bid!

Lizard King by Andres Barrioquinto

Signed and dated 2007 (lower right), oil on canvas, 48” x 36” (122 cm x 91 cm). Starting Bid Rate Below.

Php 800,000

Register now to bid!

Goddesses by Malang, Ang Kiukok, Yonzon

Signed by Malang (lower right) 1974, oil on panel, 72” x 144” (183 cm x 366 cm). Starting Bid Rate Below.

Php 20,000,000

Register now to bid!

Spectator by Mark Justiniani

Signed and dated 2013 (lower left), oil on canvas, 57” x 90” (145 cm x 229 cm). Starting Bid Rate Below.

Php 5,000,000

Register now to bid!

The Audacious Future by Mark Aran Reyes

Signed and dated 2017 (lower right), oil on canvas, 60” x 120” (152 cm x 305 cm). Starting Bid Rate Below.

Php 1,000,000

Register now to bid!

You may also like:

• What would they bid on? Kim Atienza’s picks from Leon Gallery’s Spectacular Mid Year Auction
• This wacky Pinoy online gallery makes fun of toilet paper hoarders with toilet paper art
• Own a print from your favorite Filipino photographer through this awesome initiative
• While galleries remain closed, Silverlens opens a show geared to bring art closer to the viewer

View the Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2020 catalogue as well as register to bid now at www.leon-gallery.com.