VISUAL ARTS
subject matter or themes depicting
CARLOS “BOTONG” FRANCISCO
 National Artist for Painting (1973)
 (November 4, 1912 – March 31, 1969)
 the Poet of Angono
 most distinguished practitioner of mural
painting for his historical pieces.
 He was invariably linked with the
“modernist” artists, forming with Victorio
C. Edades and Galo Ocampo was then
known in the local art circles as “The
Triumvirate”
 Major works include the
following: Portrait of Purita, The
Invasion of Limahong, Serenade, Muslim
Betrothal, Blood Compact, First Mass at
Limasawa, The Martyrdom of
Rizal, Bayanihan, Magpupukot, Fiesta, B
ayanihan sa Bukid, Sandugo.
NAPOLEON ABUEVA
National Artist for Sculpture (1976)
(January 26, 1930 – February 16, 2018)
 youngest National Artist awardee
 Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture
 as utilized almost all kinds of materials
from hardwood (molave, acacia, langka
wood, ipil, kamagong, palm wood and
bamboo) to adobe, metal, stainless steel,
cement, marble, bronze, iron, alabaster,
coral and brass.
 introduced in 1951 “buoyant sculpture”
 Major works include: Kaganapan, Kiss of
Judas, Thirty Pieces of Silver, The
Transfiguration, UP Gateway, Nine
Muses, Sunburst
VICTORIO EDADES
National Artist for Painting (1976)
(December 23, 1895 – March 7, 1985)
 Father of Modern Philippine Painting
 Edades’ colors were dark and somber with
laborers, factory workers or the simple
folk in all their dirt, sweat and grime.
 Among his works are: The Sketch, The
Artist and the Model, Portrait of the
Professor, Japanese Girl, Mother and
Daughter, The Wrestlers,
and Poinsettia Girl
PABLO S. ANTONIO
National Artist for Architecture (1976)
(January 25, 1902 – June 14, 1975)
 Pablo Jr. points out, “For our father,
every line must have a meaning, a
purpose. For him, function comes first
before elegance or form“
 Antonio structure is the maximum use
of natural light and cross ventilation.
 Antonio believes that buildings “should
be planned with austerity in mind and
its stability forever as the aim of true
architecture, that buildings must be
progressive, simple in design but
dignified, true to a purpose without
resorting to an applied set of
aesthetics and should eternally
recreate truth.”
 Major works include the
following: Far Eastern University
Administration and Science
buildings; Manila Polo Club; Ideal
Theater; Lyric Theater; Galaxy
Theater; Capitan Luis Gonzaga
Building; Boulevard-Alhambra
VICENTE MANANSALA
National Artist for Painting (1981)
(January 22, 1910 – August 22, 1981)
 paintings are described as visions of
reality teetering on the edge of
abstraction.
 Developed transparent cubism
  Manansala believes that the beauty of art
is in the process, in the moment of doing
a particular painting, closely associating it
with the act of making love. “The climax
is just when it’s really finished.”
 Manansala’s works include: A Cluster of
Nipa Hut, San Francisco Del
Monte, Banaklaot, I Believe in
God, Market Venders, Madonna of the
Slums, Still Life with Green Guitar, Via
Crucis, Whirr, Nude.
CESAR LEGASPI
National Artist for Visual Arts (Painting)
(1990)
(April 2, 1917 – April 7, 1994)
 A pioneer “Neo-Realist” of the country
 belonged to the so-called “Thirteen
Moderns”
 ade use of the geometric fragmentation
technique, weaving social comment and
juxtaposing the mythical and modern
 Among his works are: Gadgets
I, Gadgets II, Diggers, Idols of the
Third Eye, Facade, Ovary, Flora and
Fauna, Triptych, Flight, Bayanihan, Str
uggle,Avenging Figure, Turning
Point, Peace, The Survivor, The Ritual
LEANDRO V. LOCSIN
National Artist for Architecture, 1990
(August 15, 1928 – November 15, 1994)
 shaped the urban landscape with a
distinctive architecture reflective of
Philippine Art and Culture.
 believes that the true Philippine
Architecture is “the product of two great
streams of culture, the oriental and the
occidental… to produce a new object of
profound harmony.”
 produced 75 residences and 88 buildings,
including 11 churches and chapels, 23
public buildings, 48 commercial buildings,
six major hotels, and an airport terminal
building
 works: Istana Nurul Iman, The CCP
Complex — the Cultural Center of the
Philippines, Folk Arts Theater,
Philippine International Convention
Center, Philcite and The Westin Hotel
(now Sofitel Philippine Plaza).
HERNANDO R. OCAMPO
National Artist for Visual Arts (1991)
(April 28, 1911 – December 28, 1978)
 A self-taught painter
 leading member of the pre-war Thirteen
Moderns
 works provided an understanding and
awareness of the harsh social realities in
the country immediately after the
Second World War and contributed
significantly to the rise of the nationalist
spirit in the post-war era
 canvases evoked the lush Philippine
landscape, its flora and fauna, under the
sun and rain in fierce and bold colors.
 acknowledged
masterpiece Genesis served as the basis
of the curtain design of the Cultural
Center of the Philippines Main Theater
 Major works include: Ina ng
Balon, Calvary, Slum Dwellers, Nude
with Candle and Flower, Man and
Carabao, Angel’s Kiss, Palayok at
Kalan, Ancestors,Isda at Mangga, The
Resurrection, Fifty-three
“Q”, Backdrop, Fiesta.
ARTURO LUZ
National Artist for Visual Arts (1997)
 painter, sculptor, and designer for more
than 40 years
 established the Luz Gallery that
professionalized the art gallery as an
 institution and set a prestigious influence  signs his paintings “Bencab,”
over generations of Filipino artists  upheld the primacy of drawing over
 inspired and developed a Filipino artistic the decorative color
community that nurtures impeccable  as christened the emblematic
designs. scavenger figure “Sabel”- is a
 Significant paintings are :Bagong melancholic symbol of dislocation,
Taon, Vendador de Flores, Skipping despair, and isolation
Rope, Candle Vendors, Procession, Self-  His solitary figures of scavengers
Portrait, Night Glows,Grand emerging from a dark landscape were
Finale, Cities of the Past, Imaginary piercing stabs at the social conscience
Landscapes. of a people long inured to poverty and
 His mural painting Black and White is dereliction.
displayed in the lobby of the CCP’s  Works: Madonna with Objects, 1991
Bulwagang Studies of Sabel, dyptych, 1991
People Waiting, 1989
JOSE JOYA
The Indifference, 1988
National Artist for Visual Arts (2003)
Waiting for the Monsoon, 1986
(June 3, 1931 – May 11, 1995)
ABDULMARI ASIA IMAO
 is a painter and multimedia artist who
National Artist for Visual Arts (2006)-
distinguished himself by creating an
Sculpture
authentic Filipino abstract idiom that
(January 14, 1936 – December 16, 2014)
transcended foreign influences
 Most of Joya’s paintings of harmonious  A native of Sulu
colors were inspired by Philippine  is a sculptor, painter, photographer,
landscapes, ceramist, documentary filmmaker,
 His use of rice paper in collages placed cultural researcher, writer, and
value on transparency, a common articulator of Philippine Muslim art and
characteristic of folk art. culture
 is important mandala series was also  rough his works, the indigenous ukkil,
drawn from Asian aesthetic forms and sarimanok and naga motifs have been
concepts. popularized and instilled in the
 He designed and painted on ceramic consciousness of the Filipino nation and
vessels, plates, and tiles, and stimulated other peoples as original Filipino creations
regional workshops. He also did work in  Works: Industry Brass Mural,
the graphic arts, particularly in Mural Relief on Filmmaking, Industrial
printmaking. Mural, Sulu Warriors
 Works: Beethoven Listening to the
ILDEFONSO P. SANTOS, JR.
Blues, Space Transfiguration, and other
National Artist for Architecture, 2006
works like Hills of
(September 5, 1929 – January 29, 2014)
Nikko, Abstraction, Dimension of
Fear, Naiad, Torogan, Cityscape.  distinguished himself by pioneering the
practice of landscape architecture–an
BENEDICTO ‘BENCAB’ CABRERA
allied field of architecture
National Artist for Visual Arts (2006)
  producing four decades of exemplary and  Works: Tres Marias, Reveries of Love,
engaging work that has included hundreds Still Life, Nude
of parks, plazas, gardens, and a wide
FRANCISCO COCHING
range of outdoor settings that have
National Artist for Visual Arts (2014)
enhanced contemporary Filipino life.
(January 29, 1919 – September 1, 1998)
 he introduced a new concept of outdoor
shopping with landscaped walks, fountains  Acknowledged as the “Dean of Filipino
and sculptures as accents. Illustrators”
 Works: Tagaytay Highland Resort, Mt.  was a master storyteller ― in images and
Malarayat Golf and Country, Orchard in print
Golf and Country Club, Paco Park.  He synthesized images and stories
informing Philippine folk and popular
RAMON VALERA
imagination of culture.
National Artist for Fashion Design (2006)
 he was a central force in the formation of
(August 31, 1912 – May 25, 1972)
the popular art form of comics
 lies in the tradition of excellence of his  His works reflected the dynamics
works, and his commitment to his brought about by the racial and class
profession, performing his magical conflict in Philippine colonial society in
seminal innovations on the Philippine the 19th century,
terno.  Works: Maldita, Hagibis, Pedro Penduko,
 Valera is said to have given the country El Indio, Lapu-Lapu
its visual icon to the world via the terno.
JOSÉ MARÍA V. ZARAGOZA
 he unified the components of the baro’t
National Artist for Architecture (2014)
saya into a single dress with exaggerated
(December 6, 1912 – November 26, 1994)
bell sleeves, cinched at the waist, grazing
the ankle, and zipped up at the back.  His place in Philippine architecture
history is defined by a significant body of
FEDERICO AGUILAR Y ALCUAZ
modern edifices that address spiritual
National Artist for Visual Arts (2009)
and secular requirements
(June 6, 1932 – February 2, 2011)
 He greatly excelled in secular works: 36
 who signed his works as Aguilar Alcuaz office buildings, 4 hotels, 2, hospitals, 5
was an artist of voluminous output low-cost and middle-income housing
 known mainly for his gestural paintings in projects; and more than 270 residences –
acrylic and oil, as well as sketches in ink, all demonstrating his typological
watercolor, and pencil versatility and his mastery of modernist
 He was also a sculptor of note and has architectural vocabulary.
rendered abstract and figurative works in  He is a pillar of modern architecture in
ceramics, tapestries and even in relief the Philippines buttressed by a half-
sculptures made of paper and mixed century career that produced
media, which he simply calls “Alcuazaics.” ecclesiastical edifices and structures of
 belongs to the second generation of modernity in the service of God and
Filipino modernists after the fabled humanity.
Thirteen Moderns
 Major Works: Meralco Building (Pasig
Cty), Sto. Domingo Church and Convent
(Quezon City), Metropolitan Cathedral of
Cebu City, Villa San Miguel, Mandaluyoung.

Lauro “Larry” Alcala

National Artist for Visual Arts (2018)
(18 August 1926-24 June 2002)

 His comic strips spiced up the slices

of Filipino lives with witty illustrations
executed throughout his 56 years of
cartooning.
 He created over 500 characters and
20 comic strips in widely circulated
publications
 Most iconic work, “Slice of Life”-
widely circulated images of Filipino
everyday life

 Works: Slice of Life Weekend 1980-1986

Asiong Aksaya, Daily Express,
Tagalog Klasiks, 1976-1984
Smolbatteribols, Darna Komiks
1972-1984