There’s a new player in the art auction scene
Jeffrey G. Dimalanta has a lollipop in his mouth when he arrives at Gallery 928, the art store he runs at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong.
At 44, he seems a tad old to be eating kid’s stuff. But then again, it’s quite natural for a guy whose early business venture with his wife Anne May was a cotton candy outlet called Lollipuffs.
Whether he does have a sweet tooth, Dimalanta is also preoccupied with the sweet life—looking at paintings and other visual artworks, buying and selling them to people with the means to spend a fortune on such luxuries.
Aside from running Gallery 928 since 2018, he is now holding his own art auctions. “Echoes of Rarity,” which is only his second in a quarterly auction series, has a preview until Sept. 27, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the live auction on Sept. 28, 2 p.m., at G/F, SJW Building, Paseo de Magallanes, Osmeña Highway, Makati City.
“I was born into the business—it’s in my blood, a legacy passed down from my dad, who instilled in me the value of genuine connections and the importance of storytelling in art,” he says, referring to his father, Sonny Dimalanta, in whose gallery, Artwalk in Bel-Air, Makati, the gallerist learned everything he knows about fine art.
Learning from dad
From hanging out in Artwalk, the young Dimalanta soon began typing artist biographies and printing them on the backs of the frames of their works. “I developed a cataloging system and distributed flyers in various Makati churches on Sundays. I also delivered catalogs to different establishments in Makati,” he recalls.
“I was likewise involved in physical tasks, loading paintings into my dad’s van and accompanying him on client visits. When I learned to drive, I took on the responsibility of delivering the artworks myself.”
Sonny lived long enough to see his son finish a business management course at St. Joseph’s College in Quezon City and strike out on his own by opening Gallery 928.
“I always looked forward to and cherished every lunchtime that my dad and I would share in the gallery. It became our meeting place, a sanctuary where we would plan and strategize the next steps for the business. Those moments were infused with laughter and ideas as we bounced concepts off each other, shaping the vision we had for the gallery,” he says.
There’s good money in art, but what Dimalanta likewise finds fulfilling are “the wealth of stories of people recounting how they acquired artworks and the connections they have made with others with similar interests. Listening to them, I often discover we have mutual friends and realize the web of relationships that binds us together.”
He adds: “I also find great amusement in listening to the tales and anecdotes of artists, as well as the experiences of art dealers. The interactions I’ve had with these passionate individuals are priceless. It’s an honor and a privilege to know collectors, artists and dealers alike.”
70 lots on offer
For the auction, Cesar Legaspi’s “Igorot Dance” (1976), Mauro Malang Santos’ “Vendors” (2007) and Vicente Manansala’s undated 74-page sketchbook portfolio, as well as select works by Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Gus Albor, Andres Barrioquinto, Manuel Baldemor, Norma Belleza, BenCab, Michael Cacnio, Araceli Limcaco-Dans, Romulo Galicano, Dr. Toribio Herrera, Jose Joya, Arturo Luz, Justin Nuyda, Onib Olmedo, Ramon Orlina, Juvenal Sanso, Ronald Ventura, Olan Ventura and Fernando Zobel are among the 70 lots on offer.
Dimalanta wants a level playing field by including in the auction a number of works by other artists who, though lesser known, deserve equal attention.
“The logistics of the art world often posed barriers, especially for those without strong networks or financial backing. Before the internet, artists relied heavily on galleries, exhibitions and word-of-mouth to showcase their works, which could severely limit their reach and opportunities. It’s fascinating to witness how technology has reshaped the art community, allowing for a vibrant exchange of ideas and greater collaboration across the globe,” he says.
Dimalanta sees excitement as a new player in the art auction community: “It’s time that I honor friends, collectors and consignors alike by creating something special. My vision is to bring excitement to many friends in the art community while fostering deeper connections among everyone involved.
“Inspired by the successful auction houses abroad and locally, I want to curate events that not only showcase remarkable artworks, but also provide a platform for interaction and celebration. These gatherings could become a focal point for artists and collectors to engage, share stories and build lasting relationships, further enriching the tapestry of the art scene.”
