The Powerhouse of Asia Collectors

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

 

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 

Phileen Chiew

Self-described as private art collector, realtor and business broker, Phileen is often seen at various art occasions

 

Kenneth Choe

Kenneth Choe (middle) with Indonesian collector Mr. Rudy Akili (left) and CoBo Social’s Selina Ting (right)

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

(Left)

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

(From left) Nathan Gunawan, artist Loi Cai Xiang and Natalie Gunawan at Goodman Arts Centre.

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

(Second to left)

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

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

Lourdes and Michelangelo Samson. Photo by COBO Social

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

Evan Kwee and Claudia Sondakh

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 and 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

(Right)

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

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

(Right 1)

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

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

(Left 1)

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