Ang Kiukok

Famous Filipino Painters: Ang Kiukok (Chinese: 洪救國, March 1, 1931- May 9, 2005) was a leading Filipino painter and a National Artist for Visual Arts.

He was born in Davao City, Philippines to Chinese-Filipino parents who had emigrated from Fukien. He pursued Art Studies at the University of Santo Tomas, where he was taught by Filipino art masters, most notably Vicente Manansala who was to become a lifelong friend and mentor.

He first attained prominence in the Philippine arts scene in the 1960s with a distinct style that fused influences from cubism, surrealism and expressionism. Some classified his style as "figurative expressionism", others merely called it ugly. What could not be doubted was the violence in his imagery, a factor that slighted the commercial viability of his works until the 1980s. He favored such subjects as fighting cocks, rabid dogs, and people enraptured by rage or bound in chains. He painted multiple depictions of the crucified Christ that did not shirk from portraying the agonies normally associated with the crucifixion. When asked why he was so angry, he replied, "Why not? Open your eyes. Look around you. So much anger, sorrow, ugliness. And also madness." The intensity of his works stood in contrast to his own personality, described as "placid and affable".

Jose T. Joya

Famous Filipino Printmakers: Joya was a printmaker, mixed media artist, and a former dean of the University of the Philippines' College of Fine Arts. He pioneered abstract expressionism in the Philippines. His canvases were characterized by "dynamic spontaneity" and "quick gestures" of action painting. He is the creator of compositions that were described as "vigorous compositions" of heavy impastoes, bold brushstrokes, controlled dips, and diagonal swipes".

His works were strongly influenced by the tropical landscapes of the Philippine Islands. Among his masterpieces are the Nanking (a collage rendered with Asian calligraphy and forms and patterns resembling rice paddies), the Granadean Arabesque (1958) and Venice Biennial (1964).

Paco Gorospe

Famous Filipino Painters: Francisco "Paco" Gorospe (10 July 1939 – 22 September 2002) was a Filipino painter, called the "Picasso of the Philippines".

Paco Gorospe is one of the famous painters of the Philippines. He was born in Binondo, Manila. He was inspired by the simple and colourful lifestyle of native tribes from the south of the country such as the Yakans, the Bogobos and the Tausugs.

He joined a local group of artists in Ermita, Manila and sold his paintings locally, gradually gaining recognition. Paco started with crayons, later using water colours but finally shifted to oil paintings.

Gorospe's first major exhibition took place in 1962 at the Washington State Fair. US sales increased and in 1964 his works were chosen to represent the Philippines at the New York World Fair[citation needed].

Other foreign exhibitions followed including Okinawa, Japan (1972), Baden-Baden, Germany (1989), Switzerland and Denmark.

In 1990 his work Sabungeros (cockfighting) was chosen by Philippine Airlines for the cover of their playing cards given to the Passenger.