Today’s top art patrons are a passionate and motivated bunch. Aside from being a ubiquitous presence at art openings, they are staging exhibitions, building art malls and museums, setting up biennales and fairs, and acting as power-brokers between cultures. Meet the Asian art collectors who are making their mark on the international art stage.
TEXT: CoBo Editorial Force
IMAGES: Courtesy of the collectors and online resources
JAPAN
Soichiro Fukutake
World billionnaire who founded the renowned Benesse Corporation & the contemporary art museum Benesse Art Site Naoshima
Ichiro Fukano
Representative of Fields Accounting Group who mainly collects emerging artists’ works outside of Japan
Hikonobu Ise
Founder of Ise Group Inc. and the Ise Cultural Foundation (1983); collects Japanese Fine and Decorative Arts as well as modern and contemporary art
Yusaku Maezawa
Billionaire Japanese fashion mogul who dropped $98 million at auctions in just two days at Christie’s and Sotheby’s in 2016
Daisuke Miyatsu
The professor was among the first to collect installations and commission site-specific work since mid-1990s, his art-house is a must visit if you are lucky
Yoshiko Mori
Founded Mori Art Museum in 2003 with her late husband, being credited for turning Roppongi into as a cultural landmark in Tokyo
Takeo Obayashi
Chairman of a construction conglomerate, houses his collection at the Yu-un Guesthouse, designed by Tadao Ando; the Obayashi Corporate Collection is one of the best in Japan
Tatsumi Sato
His collection ranges from antique to the contemporary, both Japanese and foreign. His Daiwa Press Viewing Room has hosted shows and published on art extensively
Tadashi Yanai
Founder and president of Fast Retailing, the father of Uniqlo has a sizable collection on modern and contemporary art. His collaboration with MoMA turned art into wearable items
South Korea
Choi Seung-hyun, T.O.P.
K-Pop superstar and collector since the age of 18; his career & daily IG artwork update for his 7 million followers are interrupted by his 2-year obligatory military training
Hong Ra-hee
Renowned philanthropist & director of Leeum Samsung Museum; wife of Lee Kun-hee, Chairman of Samsung Group
Sung Ho Hong
President of jewellery company Platinum House, the real estate mogul also runs private artist residency
Kim Chang-Il
A widely respected South Korean artist, gallery owner, self-made multimillionaire, and one of Asia’s biggest art collectors
Higgin Kim
CEO of Byucksan Engineering and Construction Company, passionate patron of contempoary art and music
Lee Hyun-sook
Besides her decades of contribution to Korean art scene as the founder and director of Kukje Gallery, she is also one of the most supportive collectors to the country’s artists when there wasn’t really a market for them
Moon Duck-hwa
CEO of logistics-cultural content-investment company MY Invest; collects paintings by emerging Asian artists; now venturing into French contemporary art
Thailand
Jean-Michel Beurdeley & Eric Bunnag Booth
Started the Beurdeley-Bunnag family collection in 1990s; the step-father and step-son duo are the masterminds behind the MAIIAM Museum of Contemporary Art in Chiang Mai
Disaphol Chansiri
Bangkok law professor reigns over Thailand’s art scene by collecting and organzing shows in his exhibition spaces as well as influencing a whole generation of young collectors
Petch Osathanugrah
Thai pop star and a beverage businessman (Osotspa), the collector is looking to open his Sansab Museum in Bangkok in the coming year
Vietnam
Dr. Nguyen Duc Thanh
Economist, Founder & Director of Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research; collecting Vietanmese artists and beyond
Malaysia
Zain Azahari Zainal Abidin
Comprising 500 works and the product of half a century’s passion for collecting art, the Zain Azahari Collection (who is one of the country’s leading lawyers) is one of Malaysia’s most significant private art collections
Sarah Abdul Aziz & Mohd Suhaimi Ahmad
Business owner Mohd Suhaimi and his wife Sarah Abdul Aziz are well-known supporters of Malaysian contemporary art developments
Aliya & Farouk Khan
Over the 20 plus year of collecting, the duo had the discipline to understand first before purchase. Now they own the largest Malaysian contemporary art collection with over 1,000 pieces
Dato’ Marcus Tan Ser Lay
Real estate developer is one of the region’s most active collectors. He puts his hands on when it comes to the development of his new private musuem
Ng Sek San
The landscape architect has been collecting art since 1994 and has turned a warehouse into a gallery and guesthouse Sekeping Tenggiri
Dato’ Noor Azman Mohd Nurdin
Group Executive Chairman of Lebar Daun Development Sdn Bhd, regarded in the local art scene as the veteran collector
Sharmin & Dato N. Parameswaran
Retired Malaysian diplomat with one of the country’s largest collections, his daughter Sharmin runs Interpr8 to increase visibility of Malaysian artists
Datuk Hamzah Mohd Salleh
Collector and owner of Spanco, Malaysia’s leading professional fleet management company
Ed Soo
Lawyer and restaurateur who owns works from Malaysia and Southeast Asia
Dr. Steve Wong
Renowned plastic surgeon who turned his office into a personal museum, displaying hundreds of works of Malaysian contemporary art
Pakhruddin Sulaiman
Formerly Malaysian National Art Gallery trustee, the KL-based lawyer and art fanatic is one of the top collectors of Malaysian contemporary art
Singapore
Jim Amberson
Among the vast collection mainly composed by Asian work, a buddha sculpture by Sopheap Pich holds dear to him
Hady Ang
A semi-retired art collector based in Singapore who hails from the construction and engineering business
Ann Mui Ling
Collector focuses on works on paper, accorded the Supporter of the Arts Award by the National Arts Council, Singapore in 2013 for donations made towards the arts
Ernesto Bedmar
Based in Singapore since 1984, the Argentinian architect-collector has amassed an important collection of early works by now-famous contemporary artists from the region
Dr. Bernard & Doli Cheong
The art collector couple is also one of the biggest watch collectors in the world
Cheryl Loh & John Chia
Owns a collection comprises around 300 contemporary works from around Asia. Artist Cheo Chai Hiang calls the duo “thinking art collectors”
Phileen Chiew
Self-described as private art collector, realtor and business broker, Phileen is often seen at various art occasions
Kenneth Choe
The Executive Director of Goldman Sachs (Singapore) started collecting art as early as the 1980s, now sits at the board of Singapore Art Museum
Huai Seng Chong
Owns a collection with over 300 pieces from some 30 countries. Launched The Culture Story with his daughter Ning to foster art appreciation among collectors
Natalie Balakrishnan and Nathaniel Putra Gunawan
Natalie and Nathaniel Gunawan belong to a new generation of young collectors rapidly emerging in Singapore. They routinely visit galleries big and small across the region to savour the works of established artists and to also chance on artists they may have never heard of
Richard Hoon
Businessman owns I Search Worldwide & FinTech company, Validus Capital; first collecting at 22, now passing on his passion for art to his 3 children
Satesh Kumar
As a key Asian art collector and museum supporter, Satesh Kumar collects notable international names but is also dedicated to supporting emerging artists
Sherman Kwek
Collecting may start as inheriting habit for the businessman and CEO of City Developments Limited, now he also collects for his hotels
Linda Neo & Albert Lim
The Singaporean couple has built a collection of modern and contemporary art over the decades. Singaporean artists are at their heart, so as some regional artists from the Philippines and Indonesia.
Loh Lik Peng
Loh Lik Peng is the owner and director of Unlisted Collection. His career began as a litigator during the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. He mainly dealt with company bankruptcy.holds directorships at the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, Asian Civilisations Museum and the Peranakan Museum.
Aarti Lohia
The Indian-born, Singapore-based collector manages the Lohia Foundation that supports cross-cultural art projects
Lauren Bogen & Richard Nijkerk
The Singapore-based, Belgian-American collector couple live with an art collection of top notch western artists in their Singapore home. While back in New York, they have their Southeast Asian art collection to share with friends
Loh Lik Peng & Min Lee
The billionaire hotelier and violinist couple are passionate in collecting and to spread art through their international ultrahip hotel and restaurant outlets
Quek Tse-Kwang
Architect, art advisor, collector and hobbyist publisher is also an avid art collector in Singapore. He has published books on 30 fellow collectors and their art.
Lucia Cordeschi & Angelo Roxas
The Italian-filipino couple are global citizens who currently based in Singapore. Their love and support for Southeast Asian contemporary art has taken them everywhere in the region in searching of a dream collection
Lourdes & Michelangelo Samson
Recently naturalized Singaporean citizens, The Samson couple started their collection with filipino artists in 2005, now looking at Asia contemporary art at large
Jackson See
An avid art collector with over 25 years of collecting experience, first on Chinese contemporary then on Southeast Asian contemporary art
Claudia Sondakh & Evan Kwee
Director of Pontiac Land and the executive director of Capella Hotel Group Asia, Evan collects and supports art together with his restaurateur wife
Ryan Su & Adrian Chan
Andy Warhol fans who own a collection of his polaroids among other works; Lawyer and founders of the Ryan Foundation
Linda Tan
The globaltrotter and managing director of Sandimas is also famous for her love for the arts
Michael Tay
Expert in fine watchmaking and marketing, Michael sits in the STPI Board and is also a member of the Art Basel Cities Advisory Board; Day Job: Group managing director of Singapore’s The Hour Glass
Daniel Tong-How Teo
Property developer owns Hong How Group and Tong Eng Group, recognised in Singapore for his support of local art and artists
June-Ong & Jee Hum Teng
Founders of Teng Collection which includes works by masters and the best of Southeast Asia contemporary artists, the discreet couple just opened their new space for art during Singapore Art Week 2018
Nathalia Napitupulu Thiery
Young Indonesian collector based in Singapore, entrepreneur and designer of the fashion brand GAUDI
Wee Teng Wen
The UOB heir, co-founder and managing partner of The Lo & Behold Group is making wave in Singaporean art and lifestyle scene together with his artist wife Dawn Ng
Bill Cheng & Jesslyne Wijaya
Bill Cheng, son of Wing Tai Group’s owner Edmund Cheng, is President Director of Brewin Mesa. Based in Jakarta, the Singaporean-Indonesian couple are low-profile art collectors
Yeap Lam Yang
With a collecting journey that spans nearly 30 years and finally accumlated in the publication of Thinking of Landscape: Paintings from the Yeap Lam Yang Collection in 2014, the collector is an instrumental part of the region’s collecting scene
The Philippines
Jam Acuzar
Art patron & founder of Bellas Artes Project; day job: business development officer at her family’s real estate company, New San Jose Builders Inc
Robbie Antonio
Managing Director of Century Properties; the young and prolific collector, who was listed among Artnet’s Top 200 Art Collectors in 2015, is now bringing together 48 starchitects for prefabricated signature housing with his new venture Revolution Precrafted
Kim & Lito Camacho
Based between Manila and Singapore, the avid collector-couple is particularly know for their important Kusama collection
Marcel Crespo
Marcel Crespo is a collector from Manila, the Philippines. He is a patron of Ateneo Art Gallery, Manila, and is instrumental to the Ateneo Art Awards Grant
Lynette Ortiz
Standard Chartered’s first Filipino CEO is also a keen supporter of feminist cause and contemporary art
Paulino Que
The Que collection is well-known for its vaste selection of historical objets and Filipino modern art. The couple is now constructing a 3rd house for their equally impressive collection of contemporary art
Joanne Que Young
One of the known Filipino collectors, Joanne Que Young is a long term patron of the arts who based in Singapore
Kit & Fernando Zobel de Ayala
From the prominent Zobel de Ayala family, Fernando is the president and CEO of Ayala Corporation, and sits on the board of Asia Society and National Museum of the Philippines
Beatriz & Jaime Zobel de Ayala
Prominent Spanish Filipino businessman, philanthropist and art photographer; descendants of the Zobel de Ayala family that holds the Ayala Corporation
Indonesia
Haryanto Adikoesoemo
The founder of Museum MACAN is also a property developer & president of PT AKR Corporindo, a chemical and energy logistics company
Rudy Akili
Founder of Akili Museum, an avid art collector and owner of a prominent Indonesian travel company Smailing Tour
Ir. Ciputra
Art Patron from the prominent Ciputra family, founder of Ciputra Artpreneur Center
Cosmas Gozali
Architect and young collector, active in Southeast Asia
Lucy & Eddy Hartanto
Eddy Hartanto has been collecting contemporary art for over 2 decades, with special interest in works by the pioneers of the Indonesian New Art Movement
Yohana Irawan
One of the budding collectors in the Indonesian art scene, Yohana shares the passion and commitment to art with her mentors. She is Director of Stark Retail Indonesia
Konfir Kabo
Lawyer and business owner, the Melbourne-based Indonesian collector is a passionate supporter of Southeast Asia’s contemporary art with his Project 11
Deddy Kusuma
One of the most internationally-recognisable collectors from Jakarta, the real estate businessman started his art collection in the 1980s
Indra Leonardi
A prominent photographer who counts presidents, kings and artistic elites as his favorite subjects. His artistic sense is equally manifested in his collection of contemporary art, both indonesian and abroad.
Christina Lim
Christina Lim, from one of the most influential families in Indonesia, together with her husband Howard are budding supporters of the arts.
Haudy Mamesah
Patron of Sidola PT, a pharmaceutical machinery company, Haudy developed a passion for art under his father John Mamesah’s influence. His continues in adding contemporary art to the already extensive family collection
John Mamesah
Senior collector John Mamesah has been supporting Indonesian artists for decades, with a special interest in artist Edhi Sunarso
Putra Masagung
The Indonesian tycoon based in Singapore is known for his expansive collection and generous donations of artworks to various musuems
Dr. Oei Hong Djien
Founder of OHD Museum, owns the largest collection of Indonesian modern and contemporary art
Alexandra & John Prasetio
The diplomate and his architect wife are astute collectors, long time based in South Korea
Christina & Erastus Radjimin
The brother and sister duo founded ARTOTEL, a chain of boutique hotels filled with artworks by emerging Indonesian artists. They also sit on the Board of Young Collectors of Art Stage Jakarta
Axton Salim
Axton Salim has been the Head of Dairy Division at PT Indofood CBP Sukses Makmur Tbk since 2009 and its Head of Corporate Marketing since 2017. He is one of the major young collectors in Indonesia
Soenarjo Sampoerna
Surabaya’s Soenarjo Sampoerna is one of the senior collectors in the country. His collection comprises of works from as early as 18th Century to contemporary works
Susan Santoso
Indonesia’s prominent young collector and a successful entrepreneur
Poppy Hadiman Setiawan
Started collecting since late 80s, Poppy is an ardent collector of modern and contemporary Indonesian art, and a patron of Christine Ay Tjoe
Melani Setiawan
Physician & collector of four decades now, known as “Mother of young Indonesian artists”
Natasha Sidharta
Indonesian private collector Natasha Sidharta co-founded SAM Fund for Arts and Ecology in 2014 with Rujak Centre for Urban Studies to support developments of arts that work on ecological issues. She’s a force to be reckoned with in the indonesian art scene
Ferry Sudjono
President Director of Henan Putihrai Asset Management, Ferry Sudjono collects internationally renowned modern and contemporay art. He is also a support of Christine Ay Tjoe and Nyoman Masriadi.
Arif Suherman
Arif Suherman belongs to a new generation of young collectors who support new media works and the deveolpment of emerging artists
Nicholas Tan
Tech entrepreneur Nicholas Tan is one of the most exciting young collectors in the region. Adventurous in spirit and outlook, he’s never afraid to look beyond geographical and cultural limits to build a global collection of art
Tom Tandio
The automotive businessman is an inspiring collector for his generation. His new baby: IndoArtNow.com – an archival platform of contemporary Indonesian art
Wijono Tanoko
President Director of Avia Avian (manufacturer of paint, coating and building materials) is one of the country’s top art collectors
Alexander Tedja
One of Indonesia’s Richest 50, the real estate developer and art lover underscores the grandeur of Gandaria City with his private collection
Budi Tek
Farming tycoon & a renowned Chinese-Indonesian art collector, also founder of the Shanghai-based Yuz Museum
Sunarto Tinor
Sunarto Tinor of PT. Mitra Niaga Adhiprima has been a long supporter of the arts
Wiyu Wahono
A regular suspect on the stage of many conferences and seminars, known as Indonesia’s most experimental and intellectual collector
Janto Wihardja
The Founder and Creative Director of online magazine Sugar & Cream is also a keen collector
Prasodjo Winarko
Hails from the Sampoerna tobacco dynasty, business in property and metal industry; started collecting in 1993 with a focus on paintings