NATIONAL ARTIST
OBJECTIVES:
• To identify the different
national artist
• To discuss their major works
• To explain the artists' roles
VISUAL ARTS
Fernando Cueto Amorsolo
(1892-1972)
• recognized as the Philippines' first
National Artist on April 28, 1972, four
days after his death.
• was given the title the “Grand Old
Man of Philippine Art” for his
influential style and technique that
has inspired generations of artists.
• is well-known for his genre paintings
and landscapes and his idealized
depiction of the dalagang Filipina.
• his trademark style of backlighting
technique that makes the canvass
feel alive with the light.
• his body work includes portraitures,
landscapes, sketches, historical
paintings, and advertising art.
Major Works:
• Maiden in a Stream (1921)
• El Ciego (1928)
• Dalagang Bukid (1936)
• Planting Rice (1946)
• Sunday Morning Going to
Town (1958)
Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco
(1912-1969)
• was awarded the title of National
Artist in 1973, four years after his
death.
• is known for historically themed
murals such as the Filipino
Struggles through History which is
displayed in the Manila City Hall.
• is one of the pioneers of modernism
in the country.
• his arts reflects the values and the
colors of his town Angono that has
been a trademark of his works and
style.
• credited with the discovery of the
Angono Petroglyphs, one of the
earliest examples of prehistoric art in
the Philippines.
Major Works:
• Blood Compact
• First Mass at Limasawa
• The Invasion of Limahong
• The Martyrdom of Rizal
Guillermo E. Tolentino
(1890-1976)
• was a primier sculptor and esteemed
professor at the University of the
Philippines, Diliman.
• specialized in commemorative
sculptures of historical figures that are
monumental and grand.
• received his training from the
University of the Philippines School of
Fine Arts and later at the Royal
Academy of Fine Arts in Rome.
• became a professor at his alma mater
and taught many future stars of
Philippine art.
• created some of his most famous
works: the Bonifacion Monument
(1933) in Caloocan and the Oblation
(1935) in University of the Philippines,
Diliman
Major Works:
• Bonifacio Monument, Caloocan
• Oblation, University of the
Philippnes
• Ramon Magsaysay Statue at the
GSIS building
• Various bust sculptures of political
and historical personalities
Napoleon V. Abueva
(1930-2018)
• was the youngest recipient of the title
National Artist at age 46.
• is given the distinction of being the
“Father of Modern Philippine
Sculpture” for his nonrepresenational
sculptural works.
• is adept in using a diverse range of
media but still prefers Philippine
hardwood such as narra, molave, etc.
• his works have been exhibited in
various museums in the Philippines
and abroad.
• was awarded as the National Artist for
Sculpture in 1976.
Major Works:
• Kaganapan (1953)
• The Transfiguration (1979)
• University of the Philippines
Gateway (1967)
• The Nine Muses (1994)
Victorio C. Edades
(1895-1985)
• is considered to be the “Father of
Modern Philippine Painting”.
• ushered in the art movement with his
painting “The Builders” (1928).
• his style is described as raw and
rough using bold impasto strokes.
• his figures are distorted and flawed
which made the Filipinos reflect on
their definition of art.
• his modernist style served as the
perfect counterbalance to Fernando
Amorsolo's idealized and academic
paintings.
• was also an educator and became a
dean for the College of Architecture at
the University of Santo Tomas in
1930.
• introduced a liberal arts program that
offered subjects that would enable
students to have a Bachelor's degree
in Fine Arts.
• was the first of its kind in the
Philippines.
• became the National Artist for
Painting in 1976.
Major Works:
• The Builders (1928)
• The Sketch (1928)
• Market Scene (1920)
• The Wrestlers (1927)
• Interaction (1935) with Carlos
Francisco and Galo Ocampo
Vicente S. Manansala
(1910-1981)
• acclaimed early works combined
concepts from the rural and urban
settings, creating a reflective pause
when one views his works.
• early masterpieces were the
Madonna of the Slums and
Jeepneys.
• experimented with other art styles
and is considered a pioneer of cubism
in the Philippines.
• developed his own style of cubism
wherein objects are carefully
composed on top of another and
carefully rendered using light and
delicate colors making the objects
appear translucent and transparent.
• served as a guiding influence to other
artists who made names for
themselves.
• died in 1981 and was also
posthumously conferred the title of
National Artist for Painting that same
year.
Major Works:
• Madonna of the Slums
• Jeepneys
• Kalabaw
• Stations of the Cross (mural)
• Bangkusay Seascape
• Pila Pila sa Bigas (Left and Right)
• Planting of the First Cross
Cesar T. Legaspi
(1917-1994)
• through his cubist works, the country was
exposed and later on accepted the validity
of modern art as a movement and style.
• was part of the Thirteen Moderns, a group
of artists who promoted modern art in the
Philippines.
• was also a neorealist whose style showed
geometric distortions that express social
commentaries.
• was recognized as the National Artist for
Visual Arts in 1990.
Major Works:
• Gadgets I
• Gadgets II
• Facade
• Bayanihan
• Turning Point
• The Ritual
Hernando R. Ocampo
(1911-1978)
• was also part of the Thirteen Moderns.
• not a formally trained artist
• his artworks were no less thought-
provoking and inspiring.
• the themes of his works told of the
destruction and the harshness of life after
World War II.
• his artworks inspired and ignited the
Filipinos' nationalistic spirit and the
strength to rebuild.
• his abstract works that will be his defining
masterpieces.
• his works echo the vibrant Philippine flora
and fauna, bathed in the strong and
attention-grabbing colors.
• his masterpiece Genesis serves as the
inspiration behind the curtain design at the
CCP Main Theater.
• was awarded the distinction of becoming
the National Artist for Painting in 1991,
thirteen years after his death.
Major Works:
• Genesis
• Ina ng Balon
• Calvary
• Slum Dwellers
• Nude with Candle and Flower
• Man and Carabao
• Fiesta
Arturo Luz
(1926)
• an artist who expresses himself in many
different visual arts forms such as painting,
sculptures, prints, etc.
• his works showcase a neorealist take and
are described as sublime and austere in
expression.
• his pieces often make use of simple
collections of lines and shapes masterfully
composed to create abstract masterpieces
that reveal sophistication and simplicity.
• established the Luz Gallery that paved the
way for the professionalization of the
gallery system in the country.
• changed and influenced the Filipino artistic
community and generations of artists after
into a more qualified and specialized
association.
• awarded in 1997.
Major Works:
• Bagong Taon
• Skipping Rope
• Candle Vendors
• Night Glows
• Cities of the Past
• Imaginary Landscapes
• Black and White (mural)
• Jarlets No. 5
Jeremias Elizalde Navarro
(1924-1999)
• was a visual artist who specialized in
paintings and sculptures.
• has experimented with various media.
• his sculptural hardwood masks
combine animals and humans
• his paintings are often made of
abstract figures
• his assemblages are compositions of
found objects and metal
• also known for his incision painting
technique in which he would cut out
patterns on a stone surface and apply
a layer of paint or plaster on top.
• was awarded in 1999, the same year
he passed away.
Major Works:
• The Seasons (1992)
• Morning Mist Over Ubud, Bali (1992)
• I'm Sorry Jesus, I Can't Attend
Christmas This Year (1965)
• Homage to Dodjie Laurel (1969)
• A Flying Contraption for Mr. Icarus
(1984)
Ang Kiukok
(1931-2005)
• a Filipino of Chinese descent
• one of the most refreshing and
revolutionary artists of the 1960s.
• his works were expressions, eye-
catching, and rich in symbolism.
• his art is oftentimes violent and angst-
ridden, reflecting the social and
political instability of the time.
• was conferred the title in 2001.
Major Works:
• Geometric Landscape (1969)
• Pieta (1962)
• Seated Figure (1979)
Jose T. Joya
(1931-1995)
• differentiated himself from other
abstract artists by creating a visual
expression that wend beyond
Western influences and as a result,
created an authentic Filipino abstract.
• works were influenced by the
landscapes of the Philippines.
• were reflective of rural scenes such
as rice harvest, rice fields, and
tropical colors.
• were also reminiscent of folk art with their
colors, layering, and curvilinear expressions.
• practiced gestural paintings similar to that of
abstract expressionist painters which resulted
in works that are described as vigorous, bold,
and heavy.
• was also instrumental for future artists to
explore various media as he also designed
and rendered art on various materials such
as ceramics, tiles, plates, etc.
• was recognized in 2003, eight years after his
death.
Major Works:
• Granadean Arabesque
• Makiling Interlude
• Beethoven Listening to the Blues
• Space Transfiguration
• Hills of Nikko
• Abstraction
• Dimension of Fear
• Naiad
• Torogan
• Cityscape
Benedicto R. Cabrera
(1942)
• is more popularly known as BenCab.
• is one of the most successful Filipino
contemporary artists.
• his career started in the 1960s, shortly
after he graduated from the University
of the Philippines with a Bachelor's
degree in Fine Arts.
• a painter and a printmaker.
• his works have been displayed all over
the Philippines, as well as in Asia,
Europe, and the United States.
• is most popular for his series of works that
feature a solitary figure of a scavenger
whom he named Sabel.
• used the image of Sabel as a symbolism
of despair, desolation, and the inequality of
the social classes in the Philippines.
• was conferred with the National Artist
Award for Visual Arts in 2006.
• he is as of writing now based in Baguio
where he has set up a museum of his
works and other Filipino artists.
Major Works:
• Madonna with Objects (1991)
• Studies of Sabel (1991)
• People Waiting (1989)
• The Indifference (1988)
• Waiting for the Monsoon (1986)
Abdulmari Asia Imao
(1936-2014)
• a Tausug
• is the first Filipino Muslim to receive
the title of National Artist.
• is primarily known as a sculptor
• is also a painter, photographer,
ceramist, documentary filmmaker,
cultural researcher
• curator and collector of Philippine
Muslim Art.
• is known for adapting Southern
subjects and motifs in his works such
as the Ukkil (sinuous relief
woodcarving traditionfroun in houses,
boats), sarimanok (mythical bird with
fish) and naga (sea serpent).
• his artworks are instrumental in
popularizing and bringing to
consciousness these motifs as unique
to the Filipino culture.
• trained at the University of the
Philippines and the University of
Kansas.
• created monumental sculptures of
local heroes to instill trust and
camaraderie among different cultural
groups to create a better society.
• awarded in 2006
Major Works:
• Industry Brass Mural (PNB, San
Francisco La Union)
• Mural Relief on Filmmaking (Manila City
Hall)
• Industrial Mural (Central Bank of the Phil.,
San Fernando La Union)
• Sulu Warriors (statutes of Panglima Unaid
and Captain Abdurahim Imao - Sulu
Provincial Capitol)
Federico Aguilar Alcuaz
(1932-2011)
• was one of the most prolific
contemporary Filipino artists.
• worked with a myriad of media from
ceramics, tapestry, illustrations, and
paintings while using acrylic, oil, ink,
and watercolor.
• also known for his relief sculptures
made up of paper and other materials
which he called “Alcuazaics”.
• art was really his passion, taking up Fine
Arts at UP Diliman while also taking
prelaw courses at San Beda College.
• would join and win art competitions as well
as display his work in several solo
exhibits.
• finished his law degree, but after a
critically acclaimed exhibit at the Philippine
Art Gallery, he was granted fellowship
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Spain and studied and trained at the Real
Academia de Bellas Artes de San
• extended his stay in Europe, further
immersing himself in the art and
culture in Europe.
• his works are characterized as fluid,
light, easy and refined.
• was conferred with the title of
National Artist for Visual Arts in 2009.
Major Works:
• Reveries of Love
• Still Life with Landscape
• Abstract in Blue and Black
• Tap Room
• Tres Marias
• Manila 1968
Francisco V. Coching
(1919-1998)
• has distinguised himself in the field of
Filipino comics.
• has earned many monikers such as “The
King of Komiks” and the “Dean of Filipino
Illustrators”.
• a comic book writer and illustrator whose
panels are evident of his skill in drawing
and storytelling.
• entertained and informed his readers for
almost four decades, making him one of
the pillars that made comics a popular and
accessible form of art to the people.
• was an inspiration to artists and
generations of cartoonist and writers
such as Larry Alcala, Ben Infante, and
Nestor Redondo.
• used folk and popular culture as
inspirations for his works
• depicted heroism and nationalism in
his works, a reflection of the racial,
social, and colonial conflict of his
time.
• depicted the Filipinos in their ideal
forms with the impressive physique of
the men and the gentle but strong
women.
• tackled subjects of fantastical nature
such as vampires, witches, and
monsters.
• recognized his work and his
contribution to Philippine arts in 2014.
Major Works:
• Lapu-lapu
• Sagisag ng Lahing Pilipino
• Marabini (Marahas na Binibini)
• Haring Ulopong
• Movie Fan
• Pusakal
• Dimasalang
• El Vibora
Larry Z. Alcala
(1926-2002)
• created over 500 characters, 20 comic
strips, six movies, two murals and 15,000
published pages.
• a retired Fine Arts professor at the
University of the Philippines
• was well aware of the far-reaching role of
cartoons in education and value formation
• through humor, his works captured the
idiosyncrasies of the Filipino pysche and
preserved, for generations, snippets of the
Filipino way of life.
Major Works:
• Slice of Life
• Mang Ambo
• Kalabog en Bosyo
