The National Artist — VISUAL ARTS

• Visual Arts


  One of the major categories of art
• National Capital Region


  • Fernando Amorsolo
  • Cesar Legaspi
  • Hernando Ocampo
  • Arturo Luz
  • Jose T. Joya
  • Benedicto Cabrera
  • Federico Aguilar Alcuaz
  • Francisco Coching
• Fernando Amorsolo


  The "Grand Old Man of Philippine Art", first to be awarded as National Artist, known for his backlighting technique
• Fernando Amorsolo's major works


  • Maiden in a Stream (1921)
  • El Ciego (1928)
  • Dalagang Bukid (1936)
  • The Meztiza (1943)
  • Planting Rice (1946)
  • Sunday Morning Going to Town (1958)
• Cesar Legaspi


  A pioneer "Neo-Realist" of the country, refined cubism in the Philippine context, used geometric fragmentation technique
• Hernando Ocampo


  A self-taught painter, evoked the lush Philippine landscape, flora and fauna, in fierce and bold colors
• Arturo Luz


  Established the Luz Gallery that professionalized the art gallery as an institution
• Jose T. Joya


  Pioneered abstract expressionism in the Philippines, created an authentic Filipino abstract idiom
• Benedicto Cabrera


  Best-selling painter of his generation, known for the emblematic scavenger figure "Sabel"
• Federico Aguilar Alcuaz


  Painter and sculptor, known for his gestural paintings in acrylic and oil, as well as sketches in ink, watercolor, and pencil
• Francisco Coching


  Acknowledged as the "King of Komiks" and "Dean of Filipino Illustrators", central force in the formation of the popular art form of comics
• Region 1-Ilocos Region


  • Victorio Edades
• Victorio Edades


  The "Father of Modern Philippine Painting", known for his dark and somber colors, favorite subjects were laborers, factory workers or the simple folk
• Region 3 - Central Luzon


  • Guillermo Tolentino
  • Vicente Manansala
• Guillermo Tolentino


  Hailed as the "Father of Philippine Arts", famous for the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan and the UP Oblation in Diliman
• Vicente Manansala


  Cubist painter and illustrator, his paintings are described as "visions of reality teetering on the edge of abstraction"
• Vicente Manansala's works


  • 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
• Region 4A-CALABARZON


  • Carlos "Botong" Francisco
• Carlos "Botong" Francisco


  Revived the forgotten art of mural, best known for his historical pieces
• Carlos "Botong" Francisco's major works

  • Portrait of Purita
  • The Invasion of Limahong
  • Serenade
  • Muslim Betrothal
  • Blood Compact
  • First Mass at Limasawa
  • The Martyrdom of Rizal
  • Bayanihan
  • Magpupukot
  • Fiesta
  • Bayanihan sa Bukid
  • Sandugo
• Region 6-Western Visayas


  • J. Elizalde Navarro
• J. Elizalde Navarro


  Versatile artist, proficient painter and sculptor, his works span 40 years of drawing, printmaking, graphic designing, painting, and sculpting
• J. Elizalde Navarro's major mixed media works


  • I'm Sorry Jesus, I Can't Attend Christmas This Year (1965)
  • Homage to Dodjie Laurel (1969)
  • A Flying Contraption for Mr. Icarus (1984)
• Region 7-Central Visayas


  • Napoleon Abueva
• Napoleon Abueva


  The "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture", adept in either academic representational style or modern abstract, utilized various materials
• Napoleon Abueva's major works


  • Kaganapan (1953)
  • Kiss of Judas (1955)
  • Thirty Pieces of Silver
  • The Transfiguration (1979)
  • Eternal Garden Memorial Park
  • UP Gateway (1967)
  • Nine Muses (1994)
  • UP Faculty Center
  • Sunburst (1994)
  • Bronze figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw
  • Murals in marble at the National Heroes Shrine, Mt. Samat, Bataan
• Region 11 - Davao


  • Ang Kiukok
• Ang Kiukok


  Painter who fused influences from cubism, surrealism, and expressionism, favored subjects such as fighting cocks, rabid dogs, and people enraptured by rage, also painted multiple depictions of the crucified Christ
• Region 15- Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao


  • Abdulmari Asia Imao
• Abdulmari Asia Imao


  Sculptor, painter, photographer, ceramist, documentary film maker, cultural researcher, writer, and articulator of Philippine Muslim art and culture, popularized indigenous ukkil, sarimanok and naga motifs
• Abdulmari Asia Imao's works


  • Industry Brass Mural
  • Mural Relief in Filmmaking
  • Industrial Mural
  • Sulu Warriors