Our Mission

Art across cultures,
art across generations

603 Arts is a New York City–based nonprofit dedicated to advancing cultural dialogue and supporting artistic innovation. We focus on the acquisition, preservation, and promotion of emerging art, with a focus on Asian and Latin American artists.

Through exhibitions, collections, partnerships, and public programming, we seek to expand access to underrepresented artistic traditions and cultivate a global exchange of ideas, creativity, and cultural heritage.

Core Values

  1. Stewardship – Preserving cultural heritage.

  2. Discovery – Elevating new voices.

  3. Exchange – Building cross-cultural dialogue.

  4. Integrity – Honoring authenticity.

  5. Inclusion – Expanding access to art.

  6. Legacy & Innovation – Bridging tradition and the future.

About

Kate Lee is from Manila, Philippines, and her partner, Clovis Ramos Lima Jr., is from Salvador, Brazil. Both are now based in New York City, and their home is filled with artworks that reflect a passion for emerging artists and art that represents their cultural heritage.

This focus for their personal art collection spurred the creation of 603 Arts Foundation to continue promoting emerging artistic voices, while honoring and preserving the art of Latin America, Asia, and the Asia Pacific.

Kate is a member of the Bronx Museum Acquisitions Committee, the Guggenheim Curator's Circle, and The Frick Young Fellows. The couple are members of the Museum of Modern Art, Met Apollo Circle, and Whitney Contemporaries. Outside of art, Kate volunteers with the New York Junior League's Advocates for Public Policy, keeps bees, and serves on the Technology Committee of the Board of Directors for Grateful Giving.

  • The founders are from Manila, Philippines and Salvador, Brazil, and the speed of light between the two locations is 0.0603 seconds.

  • The foundation primarily operates digitally but hosts small pop-up exhibitions and events in New York City. We hope to scale these in other cities in the future.

  • The foundation serves emerging artists and collectors, and is sustained through grants and private donations. We welcome collectors, curators, and art advisors who are interested in broadening their artistic scope to learn more about underrepresented and emerging art from Asia, the Asia Pacific, and Latin America.