Romulo Olazo Sold at Auction Prices

b. 1934 - d. 2015

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  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jun. 13, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱2,600,000 - ₱3,380,000

    Untitled #216 signed and dated 1988 (lower left) acrylic on canvas 36" x 48" (91 cm x 122 cm) PROVENANCE Galleria Duemila By the 1980s, Romulo Olazo had already managed to cement his place in art history. His Diaphanous series had been near synonymous with the artist by then, with its gossamer wings style mastered through the years and then some. Then, in November 1983, a one-man show at the Luz Gallery marked the beginning of another, vastly different series. His Untitled series, in contrast, is characterized by bold, broad swathes of black pigment intersecting with blocks of colors. Spatial tension and conflict take center stage as his previously translucent pieces give way to noticeably more opaque works. This 1988 Untitled #216 was created in the same year he mounted another one-man show at Finale Art File, where he exhibited 17 pieces of the Untitled series. Forever an artist in transition, Olazo confronts the dilemmas presented by his Diaphanous works: how obsolete can a continuous exploration of a single theme render an artist? In a way, the series is a reinvention of sorts, a reconstruction of the works that have defined the past few years of his artistic career. “It was as if Olazo had given free rein to the abstract expressionist impulse and unleashed these torrents of lavish oils dispersed against the structural armature of the Diaphanous,” writes Cid Reyes in Romulo Olazo. “Historically, the two strains of abstraction – gestural and geometric – have always repelled each other, one imposing its will on the other; one espousing substantiality, the other etheriality…In the Untitled works, Olazo succumbed to the severity of one and the hedonism of the other, but preserving the integrity of both.” Indeed, Untitled #216, like many of his Untitled works, is Olazo’s response to the state of his artistic endeavors at the time. They are the cathartic records of his diverging and emerging art styles, wherein the answer is both simple and novel: it is both at the same time, with the fluidity of the Diaphanous series and the harshness of the Untitled melding to create the master that is Olazo himself. (Hannah Andrea Valiente)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jun. 13, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱3,600,000 - ₱4,680,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2011 (lower right) oil on canvas 48" x 48" (122 cm x 122 cm) PROVENANCE Private collection, Manila The Diaphanous series remains the most enduring contribution of Romulo Olazo to Philippine abstraction. In this piece, there is a quiet confidence in the way forms are allowed to emerge gently, almost tentatively, from the surface. Olazo’s process, known only to him, results in layers that feel impossibly light—oil paint handled with such sensitivity that it seems to hover rather than settle. Set against a dark, enveloping ground, the pale, overlapping bands drift across the canvas with a soft, rhythmic presence. They do not compete for attention; instead, they coexist, each layer revealing just enough of itself while allowing the others to breathe. There is a sense of patience here, as if the painting asks the viewer to slow down and meet it halfway. The forms are neither rigid nor fully defined— they shift subtly as the eye moves, creating a quiet sense of motion within stillness. What makes Olazo’s work so affecting is this balance between control and openness. The composition feels deliberate, yet never forced; refined, yet deeply personal. In its simplicity, the painting invites a more intimate kind of looking—one that lingers. And in that lingering, a certain calm takes hold. It is less about spectacle and more about presence, where the act of seeing becomes a gentle, almost meditative experience. (Jed Daya)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jun. 13, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱1,200,000 - ₱1,560,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 1975 (lower left) oil on canvas mounted on board 15 3/4” x 23 1/2” (40 cm x 60 cm) PROVENANCE Private collection, Manila Romulo Olazo is a renowned abstractionist and printmaker who sought to reimagine the genre through novel and pioneering techniques. His own practice is a result of the internal shifts within Philippine Art during the time—one that notably challenged the realism and romanticism that heavily pervaded the scene. Olazo's technical expertise in graphic arts and print media, such as serigraphy and collagraphy, contributed to the stylistic opulence evident in both his Diaphanous and Permutation series, which have brought his name to national and international prominence. Diaphanous III comes from Romulo Olazo’s award-winning Diaphanous series and represents the third panel of a triptych created in 1975 during Olazo’s early stages. It showcases the artist’s devotion to exploring the limitless possibilities of mixed media, collage, printmaking, and painting throughout his body of work. The work emulates the initial stages of Olazo's brilliance and playful exploration from graphic art to painting. True to its Greek origins, "diaphanous" translates to "through" and "to show." Olazo uses serigraphy to create a thin layer of film that is translucent enough to see through the underlying veils as far as light can traverse, resulting in a symphony of translucent forms that evoke a sense of sublimity. This transcendental and highly technical work is experimental yet impressively elegant; its form transcends time and culture as this series births multiple variations, such as the Papestry and the Permutation series. His son, Jonathan Olazo, wrote that the diaphanous form has no clear beginning or end, while simultaneously it can also start in the middle. "Its permutations are endless," he said in his father’s biography by Cid Reyes. (Paulette Neri)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (Filipino, 1934-2015), Black & White Oil on Board
    May. 26, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (Filipino, 1934-2015), Black & White Oil on Board

    Est: $1,000 - $3,000

    Romulo Olazo (Filipino, 1934-2015), Black & White Oil on Board 1977, USA. Black and white abstract composition featuring layered geometric linear forms over gestural brushwork, signed by the artist, "RO" and dated, "6.25.77" at the lower right corner. Executed in the artist's characteristic modernist style. Presented in a painted wood frame.

    Akiba Galleries
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Apr. 18, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (bottom) soft pastel on canson paper 18 1/4” x 24 3/4” (46 cm x 63 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Apr. 18, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Kasuy signed and dated 2010 (bottom) soft pastel on canson paper 19 1/2” x 25 1/4” (50 cm x 64 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Apr. 18, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 25” (48 cm x 64 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Apr. 18, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Anthurium signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 25” (48 cm x 64 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Apr. 18, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱30,000 - ₱39,000

    Nude signed and dated 1975 (lower left) charcoal on paper 18 1/2” x 12” (47 cm x 30 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Apr. 18, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱15,000 - ₱19,500

    Mother and Child hand-signed (lower right) serigraph 37 /110 8 1/4” x 5 3/4” (21 cm x 15 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Feb. 14, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱5,000,000 - ₱6,500,000

    Diaphanous B-VIII signed and dated 1979 (lower left) oil on canvas 60" x 48" (152 cm x 122 cm)   PROVENANCE Estate of the artist   EXHIBITED The Luz Gallery, Romulo Olazo: Recent Paintings - Diaphanous (Fourth One-Man Exhibition), Makati, 1979   Diaphanous B-VIII was exhibited in Romulo Olazo’s 1979 solo show, “Recent Paintings – Diaphanous,” held at the Luz Gallery. This was Olazo’s fourth one-man exhibition and signaled a pivotal moment in his artistic evolution—his deepening exploration of abstraction through light, translucence, and layered form. Only five years earlier, Olazo had made the bold decision to leave a successful career in advertising, where he rose to the position of creative director. The risk allowed him to fully commit to the visual language he was beginning to shape—one that would soon distinguish him in Philippine contemporary art. His early engagement with printmaking, particularly serigraphy and collagraphy, profoundly influenced his painterly approach. These techniques informed the emergence of what would later be known as the Diaphanous, a concept that began to take form in the early 1970s. By the time of the 1979 exhibition, Diaphanous B-VIII belonged to the formative or “childhood” stage of this body of work—an abstract language still unfolding. Over time, this exploration would mature into The Diaphanous Series, now recognized as one of Olazo’s most significant artistic achievements. (Simone Vicencio)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 31, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱30,000 - ₱39,000

    SBW #4 hand-signed and dated 1987 (lower right) screenprint, 1/10 22” x 28” (56 cm x 71 cm) Though primarily known for his painting, Romulo Olazo has done a fair amount of printmaking himself. In fact, printmaking was his initial path, his backdoor through which he would eventually take on painting. This screenprint is among Olazo’s masterpieces, a testament to his masterful handling of the graphic arts. (Hannah Valiente)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 31, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱20,000 - ₱26,000

    PROPERTY FROM THE LORNA REVILLA MONTILLA COLLECTION Portrait of a Lady signed and dated 1975 (bottom) pastel on paper 12” x 9” (30 cm x 23 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 31, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱15,000 - ₱19,500

    Nude V hand-signed and dated 1976 (lower right) serigraph, 1/10 26” x 20” (66 cm x 51 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 31, 2026

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱15,000 - ₱19,500

    Nude VI hand-signed and dated 1976 (lower right) serigraph A/P 25 1/2” x 16 1/2”(65 cm x 42 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Dec. 06, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱1,400,000 - ₱1,820,000

    Untitled # 208 signed and dated 1988 (lower left) acrylic on canvas 24" x 36" (61 cm x 91 cm) PROVENANCE Private collection, Manila   Romulo Olazo’s Untitled Series emerged in the early 1980s, marking a significant evolution in his artistic trajectory. Debuting in his 1983 solo exhibition New Works at The Luz Gallery, these pieces represented a turning point after the acclaim of his Diaphanous Series. As noted by Patricia Tria Olazo in Cid Reyes’ monograph on the artist, “Olazo’s paintings take an opaque quality with the use of mixed media, acrylic, and oil on canvas”—a statement that captures the artist’s departure from the ethereal luminosity of his earlier works toward a more material and tactile visual language. In Untitled #208, this shift is rendered with remarkable control and emotional depth. The work eschews the diaphanous transparency that once defined Olazo’s painterly signature, replacing it with opacity, density, and an almost architectural balance of form. Earthy pigments anchor the composition, while gestural sweeps of line and texture cut through the surface with both spontaneity and deliberation. There is an implicit rhythm in the interplay of shape and void, as if the artist is orchestrating a dialogue between concealment and revelation. Here, abstraction becomes not an escape from form, but a confrontation with it—asserting volume, depth, and substance without forsaking the lyrical grace that characterizes Olazo’s hand. (Jed Daya)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Dec. 06, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱500,000 - ₱650,000

    Untitled # 178 signed and dated 1987 (lower right) acrylic on paper 22" x 38" (53 cm x 97 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot Romulo Olazo first began his Untitled Series in the early 1980s, debuting it in his 1983 solo show “New Works” at the Luz Gallery. On his website, quoting Cid Reyes’s monograph Romulo Olazo, the Untitled Series was described as: “Bold, broad swathes of pure black pigment, sliding upon the surface and space, and colliding in a salvo of angular intersection [...] In these works, colors play a secondary role: a chromatic chorus to the black aria.” This Untitled #187, created a few years after the New Works exhibit, echoes that operatic aria of colors this series conveys. With his previous series, Diaphanous, gaining awards from both local and international stages, his Untitled series is likely a result of both his wish to take his artistry to the next level and prevent creative stagnation as a result of a continued patronage of the subject matter. Indeed, Untitled #187 preserves Diaphanous’s irregular and irreverent brush strokes but strips them of their usual gossamer shine, leaving the works more opaque than Diaphanous. In the same book, Reyes eloquently describes the beauty of the Untitled Series the best, stating that: “Clearly, the Untitled works, by their sheer appellation, constituted Olazo’s experimental stage. The Diaphanous, after all, had already been cast as the artist’s classic image [...] He decided to take it to a new dimension, a higher ether. The Untitled works are Olazo’s cathartic records of that wrestling convulsion. Some regarded the Untitled works as a betrayal of the Diaphanous. Others viewed them as a resuscitation of a flagging theme. Still, to some, Olazo was perceived as an artist in transition.” (Hannah Valiente)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Dec. 06, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱400,000 - ₱520,000

    PROPERTY FROM THE NIKKI COSETENG COLLECTION a.) Nude I signed and dated 7.29.76 (lower right) charcoal on paper 17 1/2" x 23 1/2" (44 cm x 60 cm) b.) Nude II signed and dated 7.24.76 (lower right) charcoal on paper 17 1/2" x 23 1/2" (44 cm x 60 cm) c.) Nude III signed and dated 8.19.76 (lower left) charcoal on paper 23 1/2" x 17 1/2" (60 cm x 44 cm) d.) Nude IV signed and dated 7.29.76 (lower left) charcoal on paper 23 1/2" x 17 1/2" (60 cm x 44 cm) Born in 1934 in Batangas, Romulo Olazo ventured into the city to attend college. In Manila, he worked as a typist in a law office to support himself while studying Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, where he trained under Victorio Edades and Diosdado Lorenzo. In the mid-1950s, Olazo worked as an illustrator for Oriental Komiks and Tagalog Klasiks of Ace Publications. During this period, he also had a stint in the advertising industry, designing outdoor advertising outfits for Modern Advertising, Montserrat Advertising, and Acme Neon Lights. His outstanding work in this field prompted Felix Bunag to recruit Olazo to join the Philippine Advertising Counselors (PAC). During his time at the PAC, Olazo was introduced to printmaking. Since then, he delved into the art of printmaking, familiarizing himself with various printmaking techniques and entering competitions. Throughout his career, he held numerous solo and group exhibitions locally and internationally. He also received a multitude of awards and recognitions, especially for his esteemed Diaphanous series, a collection of airy, translucent compositions in small and monumental canvases that embody the Japanese philosophic concept of "mono no aware"—beauty in transience. Seemingly simple, these works are the result of a painstaking process and a profound understanding of color and spatial relationships. His fine strokes and ingenious layering of oil paint create ABOVE: Olazo (right) with Cesar Legaspi (left) in a Saturday Group of Artists session. © Photo reproduced in the book Romulo Olazo by Cid Reyes patterns of relative transparency and density, showcasing Olazo's immense control and patience. Olazo's refined strokes and tenacity towards his artmaking also apply to his other works. Drawn with charcoal, this lot of four nude drawings exemplifies the artist's artistic bravura and versatility in creating awe-inspiring masterpieces across a wide range of styles and mediums. These drawings offer a glimpse into the female form, infused with the artistic flair of an acclaimed artist. Romulo Olazo's mastery of charcoal and the human anatomy captured every dip, line, and curve of his model, despite the different motions and positions. These studies served as the artist's practice for controlling his strokes and tonal values. And despite featuring an unclothed woman, his depiction is devoid of eroticism. Instead, they promote appreciation for the female body. Aside from his acclaimed gossamer paintings and nude drawings, Olazo's ingenuity and skilled craftsmanship have also produced a multitude of works in different forms and genres, ranging from landscape and still-life paintings to portrait drawings and inked illustrations, which vary from figurative to abstract works. In 1972, a few years before the making of these pieces, the Cultural Center of the Philippines honored Romulo Olazo's artistic prowess in the prestigious Thirteen Artists Awards. (Jessica Magno)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱20,000 - ₱26,000

    Untitled signed and dated 1980 (lower left) oil on paper 5” x 8” (13 cm x 20 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Kasuy signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Anthurium signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Oct. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱80,000 - ₱104,000

    a.) Landscape signed and dated 1981 (upper left) watercolor on paper 10 1/2” x 14 1/2” (27 cm x 37 cm) b.) Landscape signed and dated 1981 (upper right) watercolor on paper 10 1/2” x 14 1/2 (27 cm x 37 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱3,400,000 - ₱4,420,000

    Diaphanous Anthuriums #152 (Cat # 25390) signed and dated 2013 (bottom) oil on canvas 36” x 36” (91 cm x 91 cm)   PROVENANCE Private collection, Manila   A painter and printmaker, Romulo Olazo continued to grace the Philippine art scene with his resplendent masterpieces, especially his highly acclaimed and most coveted Diaphanous series. Painted in the hoariness of his late age of 79, Diaphanous Anthuriums #152 (CAT # 25390) belongs to this illustrious collection and is a potent testament to his unbending artistry and ceaseless artmaking. Olazo’s ingenuity and skilled craftsmanship are evident in his many paintings of fine transparent screens in overlapping layers that result in airy, translucent compositions. The Diaphanous series, crafted with his delicate brushwork, evokes a fleeting sensation and a deep emotional response from his monochromatic palette, thus perfectly embodying the Japanese philosophical concept of “mono no aware”—beauty in transience. Indeed, this 2013 oil on canvas piece impeccably demonstrates Olazo’s consistency and profound understanding of light and space, inviting a heartfelt connection with the viewers. Perhaps age is but a number to the artist, for he kept on making sublime artworks that would be his legacy in his lifetime and beyond. In November 2014, Olazo mounted his last one-man show with a single painting titled Diaphanous B-CCXXXV, the largest in his diaphanous collection, measuring 80 x 240 inches. (Jessica Magno)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Sep. 13, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱1,400,000 - ₱1,820,000

    Diaphanous #794 signed and dated 2011 (lower right) oil on canvas 24" x 24" (61 cm x 61 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot Known for exploring immateriality, transparency, and a quality of in-betweenness, Romulo Olazo's Diaphanous piece gives its viewers a glimpse into his extensive series that spans over four decades, producing more than twenty-five thousand studies, paintings, and sketches, each as magnificent as the other and was achieved through layers of translucent screen projects, a quiet fusion between matter and illusion. Deeply influenced by his background as a printmaker, Olazo used his mastery to produce an art series that evokes the beauty of dragon fly wings, gossamer veil, or a symphony through its translucent forms and subtle interplay of light and color. This featured piece highlights a portion of the beauty and significance that Olazo had honed for decades, a magnificent series that has made contributions to modern abstract art in the Philippines and Asia. (Mark John Castañeda)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (bottom) soft pastel on canson paper 20” x 25” (51 cm x 64 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 25” (48 cm x 64 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    PROPERTY FROM THE DON EUGENIO “GENY” LOPEZ JR. COLLECTION Untitled - Abstract Forms signed and dated 4.25.85 (lower left) tempera on paper 9” x 12” (23 cm x 30 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    PROPERTY FROM THE DON EUGENIO “GENY” LOPEZ JR. COLLECTION Untitled - Abstract Forms signed and dated 5.1.85 (bottom) tempera on paper 9” x 12” (23 cm x 30 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    PROPERTY FROM THE DON EUGENIO “GENY” LOPEZ JR. COLLECTION Untitled - Abstract Forms signed and dated 4.25.85 (lower right) tempera on paper 9” x 12” (23 cm x 30 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    PROPERTY FROM THE DON EUGENIO “GENY” LOPEZ JR. COLLECTION Untitled - Abstract Forms signed and dated 5.1.85 (lower left) tempera 9” x 12” (23 cm x 30 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    PROPERTY FROM THE DON EUGENIO “GENY” LOPEZ JR. COLLECTION Untitled - Abstract Forms signed and dated 1988 (lower left) tempera on paper 10 1/2” x 14 1/2” (27 cm x 37 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jul. 26, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱70,000 - ₱91,000

    PROPERTY FROM THE DON EUGENIO “GENY” LOPEZ JR. COLLECTION Untitled - Abstract Forms signed and dated 1990 (lower left) tempera 15 1/4” x 22 1/4” (39 cm x 57 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jun. 07, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱1,600,000 - ₱2,080,000

    Diaphanous #904 signed and dated 2012 (lower right) oil on canvas 24" x 24" (61 cm x 61 cm)   Romulo Olazo’s Diaphanous is a momentous body of work that spans the course of four decades. In their breadth and immensity, this series rivals none in its total understanding of one subject matter. His Diaphanous works use a naming system that consists of a letter code followed by a Roman or Arabic numeral; as such, the 2012 Diaphanous #904 contains the tail-end glory of his Diaphanous works. “There is something of the obstinate in Olazo when he begins to pursue an idea to its inevitable conclusion,” Alice M. L. Coseteng once wrote in 1986. Indeed, Olazo’s persistent pursuit of the Diaphanous yielded, quite predictably, a series of masterpieces that stood the tests of time. The beauty of transience permeates Olazo’s Diaphanous series; his works evoke the pathos of everyday objects, a poignant feeling that takes after the Japanese idea of mono no aware or the sensitivity to ephemera. His previous experience as a printmaker gave Olazo the edge needed to push Diaphanous into the limelight. The serigraphic approach of using stenciled patterns paired with the collographic method of layering results in a translucent effect that makes the piece almost three-dimensional and lifelike, a visual masterpiece that has garnered many a collector’s attention. The Diaphanous series, deservedly so, is Olazo’s golden ticket to the annals of Philippine art history, a legacy that lives on until today. (Hannah Valiente)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    May. 03, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱120,000 - ₱156,000

    a.) Kasuy signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm) b.) Anthurium signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm) c.) Anthurium signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm) Each piece is accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    May. 03, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱120,000 - ₱156,000

    a.) Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm) b.) Kasuy signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm) c.) Kasuy signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 25” (48 cm x 64 cm) Each piece is accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    May. 03, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱80,000 - ₱104,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (lower right) pastel on paper 12” x 19” (30 cm x 48 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    May. 03, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm) Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) - Monoprint D
    Mar. 15, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) - Monoprint D

    Est: ₱80,000 - ₱104,000

    Monoprint D signed and dated 1974 (lower right) monoprint 19 1/4” x 13” (49 cm x 33 cm)   Provenance Sining Kamalig The 1974 Monoprint D was done just four years after Romulo Olazo picked up printmaking as the vehicle to help him break into the Philippine art scene. In this, Olazo’s technique in printmaking is evident – straight and precise, the artist shows a great understanding of his craft, with the rigorous process of the medium embedding itself into Olazo’s illustrious career. Indeed, even as he picked up painting, he transferred the skills he had honed in paintmaking. From etching, engraving, and screenprinting to beyond, Olazo’s technique bled into his paintings, creating an oeuvre that was intrinsically unique to him. (Hannah Valiente)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) - Mini-Diaphanous #573 (Kasuy
    Feb. 22, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) - Mini-Diaphanous #573 (Kasuy

    Est: ₱400,000 - ₱520,000

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) Mini-Diaphanous #573 (Kasuy) signed and dated 2013 (lower right) oil on canvas 6" x 18" (15 cm x 46 cm) Mini-Diaphanous #573 (Kasuy) is among Romulo Olazo’s resplendent masterpieces, a part of his highly acclaimed and coveted Diaphanous series. His airy, translucent compositions show Olazo’s immense control and patience. Seemingly simple, his works result from a meticulous process and a deep understanding of color and space to achieve this level of translucency. His fine strokes and ingenious layering of oil paint create patterns of relative transparency and density. Olazo’s vibrant yet restrained works also evoke a profound emotional response; his gossamer canvases bring forth a fleeting sensation. (Jessica Magno)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) - Untitled #344
    Feb. 22, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) - Untitled #344

    Est: ₱1,200,000 - ₱1,560,000

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) Untitled #344 signed and dated 2011 (lower right) mixed media on canvas 24" x 24" (61 cm x 61 cm)   Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot With the Diaphanous series casting a wide shadow, Romulo Olazo’s Untitled series unbiddenly became Diaphanous’s lesser-known sister. Diaphanous is undoubtedly the more famous of Olazo’s series but it also posed another question: after all these unfatiguing decades, what other directions can the series go? With such a heavy question hanging over Diaphanous, Untitled constituted Olazo’s experimental stage as he grappled with the enormity of his other series.   This 2011 Untitled #344 follows Diaphanous’s naming convention of numerical numbers and yet it looked vastly different from Diaphanous. While Diaphanous dealt with gossamer shine and sheer butterfly wings, Olazo’s Untitled series inserted opaqueness into the equation. Transparency versus opacity with a sense of tension as elements of varying levels of lucidity fought for the right to occupy the space they were given. In Untitled #344, transparent layers overlap one on top of another with the center featuring opaque brush strokes of varying colors. It is a vision on the canvas and a breath of fresh air from Olazo.   “The Untitled works are Olazo’s cathartic records of [Diaphanous’s] wrestling convulsion,” Cid Reyes wrote in Olazo’s monograph. “Some regarded the Untitled works as a betrayal of the Diaphanous. Others viewed them as a resuscitation of a flagging theme. Still, to some, Olazo was perceived as an artist in transition. ”(Hannah Valiente)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) - Diaphanous #863
    Feb. 22, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) - Diaphanous #863

    Est: ₱800,000 - ₱1,040,000

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015) Diaphanous #863 signed and dated 2012 (lower right) oil on canvas 18" x 24" (46 cm x 61 cm)   Accompanied by a certificate issued by Paseo Gallery and signed by the artist' heirs for confirming the authenticity of this lot Romulo Olazo’s Diaphanous is perhaps one of the most extensive and exhaustive studies of one singular subject. For over four decades, Diaphanous yielded more than 25,000 pieces in studies, paintings, and other works, his obstinacy to pursue the image to its limits and creating a confounding collection that amplified Diaphanous to a different level of artistry.   In this series, as opposed to his earlier prints where he used poetic titles, Olazo adopted a system where he assigned a serial number to a painting, a letter code followed by a Roman or Arabic numeral. Diaphanous #863, created in the latter part of the series, follows that premise and is, at its core, a great example of Olazo’s aptitude. Throughout this series, Olazo experimented with his medium and pigment types, switching back and forth from traditional painter’s ink to painter's oil, which yielded different results. This particular Diaphanous bleeds blue, a monochromatic masterpiece that speaks of gossamer and butterfly wings with their translucent beauty.   “There is something of the obstinate in Olazo when he begins to pursue an idea to its inevitable conclusion,” Alice M. L. Coseteng once wrote in 1986. Indeed, Diaphanous #863 is an amalgamation and a celebration of Olazo’s tenacious series, a creation that speaks of his dedicated talent. (Hannah Valiente)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo A Forty Year Retrospective
    Jan. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo A Forty Year Retrospective

    Est: ₱3,000 - ₱3,900

    signed 12” x 18” (30 cm x 46 cm)

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    Anthurium signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm)   Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm)   Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    Kasuy signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 19” x 26” (48 cm x 66 cm)   Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱40,000 - ₱52,000

    Kasuy signed and dated 2009 (bottom) soft pastel on paper 9" x 12" (23 cm x 30 cm)   Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)t
    Jan. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)t

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (lower right) soft pastel on canson paper 26” x 19” (66 cm x 48 cm)   Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
  • Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)
    Jan. 25, 2025

    Romulo Olazo (1934 - 2015)

    Est: ₱50,000 - ₱65,000

    Diaphanous signed and dated 2010 (lower right soft pastel on canson paper 26” x 19” (66 cm x 48 cm)   Accompanied by a certificate signed by the artist confirming the authenticity of this lot

    Leon Gallery
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