June Digan is a designer and illustrator specializing in traditional and digital mediums. A graduate of Fine Arts and Design majoring in advertising arts at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, June’s work focuses on moods, emotions, and storytelling using delicate...

National Artist for Visual Arts (2018) (18 August 1926-24 June 2002) Recognized as the dean of Philippine cartoonists, Larry Alcala founded the Samahang Kartunista ng Pilipinas and which he served as president in 1979. He is famous for his prolific comic strips with...

National Artist for Visual Arts (2014) (January 29, 1919 – September 1, 1998) Francisco Coching had a holistic approach in his art practice by illustrating his comics while writing their storylines. Thus, he had a full grasp of the creative endeavor of comics,...

National Artist for Visual Arts (2009) (June 6, 1932 – February 2, 2011) Federico Aguilar y Alcuaz is known for his abstraction of still life works and landscapes. Hailed by Dr. Rod. Paras-Perez as the “epic troubadour of the urban landscape”, Alcuaz painted panoramic...

National Artist for Visual Arts (2006) (January 14, 1936 – December 16, 2014) Abdulmari Asia Imao, the First Muslim National Artist, featured the artistic expression of Mindanao in his works. He is known for his extensive use of the sarimanok (the iconic bird based on...

National Artist for Visual Arts (2006) (April 10, 1942 – present) Benedicto Cabrera, or BenCab as he is widely known, is a painter, printmaker and photographer. His most famous subject and muse is Sabel, a bag lady/madwoman/scavenger he observed and sketched from his...

National Artist for Visual Arts (2003) (June 3, 1931 – May 11, 1995) Jose Joya’s art is rooted in abstraction, and like HR Ocampo, is non-figurative in nature. Joya was influenced by Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings, prompting him to experiment with the role of chance...

National Artist for Visual Arts (2001) (March 1, 1931 – May 9, 2005) Ang Kiukok is heavily influenced by social realism, a movement where art was used to portray the realistic working conditions of the poor and the working class. Thus, Ang’s work is full of angst,...

National Artist for Visual Arts (1999) (May 22, 1924 – June 10, 1999) J. Elzalde’s Navarro’s paintings showed his command of color and intelligent application of geometric patterns by harnessing different influences in his works. These include the Japanese aesthetic...

National Artist for Visual Arts (1997) (November 20, 1926 – May 26, 2021) Arturo Luz is known for his minimalism in his works of art. His works (whether in painting or sculpture) is characterized by his use of geometric shapes, fine lines and a muted color palette....

National Artist for Visual Arts (1991) (April 28, 1911 – December 28, 1978) Hernando Ocampo, or HR Ocampo as is widely recognized, is part of the Thirteen Moderns and one of the six core group of the Neo-Realists. Ocampo embraced abstraction in its most basic form:...

National Artist for Visual Arts (1990) (April 2, 1917 – April 7, 1994) Cesar Legaspi is part of the Thirteen Moderns and with other Neo-Realists like Vicente Manansala, HR Ocampo, Romeo Tabuena, Victor Oteyza and Ramon Estela, advocated modern art in the Philippines....

National Artist for Painting (1981) (January 22, 1910 – August 22, 1981) Vicente Manansala is part of the Thirteen Moderns and espoused modernism in his art through the influences of Western artists of the time. He was heavily influenced by Cubism (an art movement...

National Artist for Painting (1976) (December 23, 1895 – March 7, 1985) Known as the “Father of Modern Philippine Painting” and a pivotal member of the “Thirteen Moderns” and the “Triumvirate” (together with Galo Ocampo and Carlos “Botong” Francisco), Victorio Edades...

National Artist for Painting (1973) (November 4, 1912 – March 31, 1969) Carlos “Botong” Francisco, one of the advocates of modernism in Philippine art, is part of the Thirteen Moderns and the Triumvirate (with Victorio Edades and Galo Ocampo). He promoted and...

National Artist for Visual Arts (1972) (May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972) Fernando Amorsolo, the first National Artist of the Philippines, is also known as “The Grand Old Man of Philippine Painting,” “the poet of color,” and “the painter of Philippine sunlight.” He...

AJ De Jose, also known as 'Naburok', was born in 2000 and she's a local artist based in Manila. AJ explores both digital and traditional illustrations inspired by her daily experiences. Simply derived from her daydreams, her artworks showcase structures, vehicles,...