famous filipino illustrators

José Honorato Lozano (1821 – 1885)

José Honorato Lozano was a Filipino painter born in

Manila. He is best known as the pioneering
practitioner of the art form known as Letras y figuras,
in which the letters of a patron's name is composed
Juan Luna (1857 – 1899)

Juan Luna de San Pedro y Novicio Ancheta was a

Filipino painter, sculptor and political activist of the
Philippine Revolution during the late 19th century. He
became one of the first recognized Philippine artists
 Spoliarium Andong Agimat

The work was subsequently sold for a

record price of PHP73. 584 million
(US$1.36 million) at a Salcedo Auctions'
Important Philippine Art sale in the
The work was subsequently sold for a record price of PHP73. Philippines.
584 million (US$1.36 million) at a Salcedo Auctions' Important
Philippine Art sale in the Philippines.
José Rizal (1861 – 1896)

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a

Filipino nationalist, writer and polymath active at the
end of the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines.
He is considered the national hero of the Philippines.
 “Spanish Coat of “Allegory on a pair of porcelain
Saturnina Rizal bases of the new year celebration”
Arms” (1867) (1886)
Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972)

Labeled the country’s first National Artist in 1972 by

then President Marcos, Fernando Amorsolo is often
known as the ‘Grand Old Man of Philippine Art’. The
Spanish-trained realist developed a backlighting
technique, where his colorful depictions of local
people reflect the radiance of the Philippine sun. The
figures and illuminated landscapes magically glow on
the canvas. Despite his deteriorating health and failing
eyesight, he remained prolific until the end, producing
up to 10 paintings a month until his death at the age
of 80. Amorsolo’s creativity defines the nation’s
culture and heritage to this day.
Mango pickers, 1936 Fruit Gatherer, 1950
(oil on canvas) (oil on board)
Vicente Manansala (1910 – 1981)

Vicente Silva Manansala was a Filipino cubist painter

and illustrator. One of the first Abstractionists on the
Philippine art scene Vicente Manansala is also
credited with bridging the gap between the city and
the suburbs, between the rural and cosmopolitan
ways of life.
 “Magsasaka” Pagkain

Tiangge (Market scene)

Tony Velasquez (1910 – 1997)

Antonio "Tony" Velasquez is a Filipino illustrator

regarded as the Father of Tagalog comics and as the
pioneer and founding father of the Philippine comics
industry. He was the creator of Kenkoy, an “iconic
Philippine comic strip character”.
Kenkoy
Alfonso A. Ossorio (1916 – 1990)

Alfonso Angel Yangco Ossorio was a Filipino American

abstract expressionist artist who was born in Manila
in 1916 to wealthy Filipino parents from the province
of Negros Occidental. His heritage was Hispanic,
Filipino, and Chinese. Between the ages of eight and
thirteen, he attended school in England.
 Beach Comber, Tattooed Couple, 1950
1953 (oil on canvas) (oil on canvas)
Fernando Zóbel de Ayala y Montojo (1924 – 1984)

Fernando Zóbel de Ayala y Montojo Torrontegui, also

known as Fernando M. Zóbel, was a Spanish Filipino
painter, businessman, art collector and museum
founder.
 “Seated
“Retiro”, 1959 “Aracili”, 1959
Man”, 1953
Alfredo Alcala (1925 – 2000)

Filipino comics artist, born in Talisay, Negros

Occidental in the Philippines. Alcala was an
established illustrator whose works appeared in the
Alcala Komix Magazine. His 1963 creation Voltar
introduced him to an international audience,
particularly in the United States. Alcala garnered
awards in science fiction during the early part of the
1970s
 Voltar
Tres Ojos
(pencils and inks)
Lauro "Larry" Zarate Alcala (1926 –2002)

well-known editorial cartoonist and illustrator in the

Philippines. In 2018, he was posthumously conferred
the National Artist for Visual Arts title and the Grand
Collar of the Order of National Artists (Order ng
Pambansang Alagad ng Sining).
Crisis in Humanity Sabel Yellow Confetti
Mauro Malang Santos (1928 – 2017)

Mauro Malang Santos, commonly known by the

mononym Malang, was a Filipino and award-winning
cartoonist, illustrator, and fine arts painter. As a
comics artist he is best known for the series Kosme
the Cop, Chain Gang Charlie and Beelzebub.
 Slices of the Filipino Spirit
Slice of Life Islaw Plitaw Mang Ambo
Francisco Reyes (1930’s)

Francisco Reyes is a Filipino illustrator and comic strip

artist who is regarded as the “King of the Philippine-
jungle lord school of comics-strip writing”. He was the
co-creator, together with Pedrito Reyes, of Kulafu, the
first colored adventure comic strip in the history of
comics and magazines in the Philippines.
Kulafu
Sonny Trinidad (1934 – 2008)

Celso L. "Sonny" Trinidad was a Filipino comics artist

who worked in the Filipino and American comic book
industries. In the U.S., he is mostly known for his
work for Marvel Comics in the mid–1970s.
The Witching Hours House of Mystery The Unexpected
(DC Comics) (DC Comics) (DC Comics)
 Vampire Tales:
Dracula Lives Conan the Barbarian
Morbius
(Marvel Comics) (Curtis Magazine)
(Marvel Comics)
Ang Kiukok (1935 – 2005)

Born to Chinese immigrants, Ang Kiukok is the

pioneer of Philippine modern figurative
expressionism and was a renowned Filipino
Expressionist whose colorful and striking paintings
portrayed a variety of cubist-like figures such as a
mother embracing her infant, grisly crucifixions,
tables holding an array of fish and fruit, stray dogs,
and screaming subjects. Rewarded as the country's
National Artist in 2001.
 “Man”, 1978 "The Fishermen“, 1981
(oil on canvas) (oil on canvas)

Ang Kiukok’s “Fishermen” became the most expensive Philippine

artwork ever sold in the country. Kiukok’s 1981 easel painting sold
for a staggering P65,408,000.
Jim Fernandez (1936 – 2022)

Jim M. Fernandez was a Filipino comic book artist

best known for his works on Aztec and Aliwan
Komiks. He also popularized the fictional character,
Zuma in his novels.
 Zuma
Darna at ang Impakta Kambal sa Uma
(Aliwan Comics)
Rudy Nebres (1937 – present)

Rodolfo D. Nebres is a Filipino comics artist who has

worked mostly as an inker in the American comic
book industry. Known for his lush, detailed inklines,
Nebres' most prolific period was in the late 1970s and
the 1980s. Nebres was awarded the Inkwell Awards
Joe Sinnott Hall of Fame award for "an inking career
in American comic books of outstanding
accomplishmen
"The Exterminator"
"The Witch Doctor's Magic Savage Tales #6
in House of Mystery Cloak" in House of Secrets (Marvel Comics,
#210 (DC Comics, #112 ( DC Comics, 1973) 1974)
1973)
Giant-Size Dracula #5
Dr. Strange John Carter
(Marvel Comics,
(Marvel Comics) (Marvel Comics)
1975)
 Deadly Hands of
Marvel Super Special Power Man and Iron
Kung Fu (Curtis
(Marvel Comics) Fist (Marvel Comics)
Magazines)
Hal Santiago (1941 – 2021)

Dominador "Hal" Santiago was a Filipino illustrator

and writer in the field of Philippine comics. Santiago
was described by Filipino writer Jim M. Fernandez as
the “Raphael of [Philippine comic book] Illustrators”
Benedicto Cabrera (1942 – present)

Benedicto Reyes Cabrera, better known as "BenCab",

is a Filipino painter and was awarded National Artist
of the Philippines for Visual Arts in 2006. He has been
noted as "arguably the best-selling painter of his
generation of Filipino artists.
Women, 1986
(ink on paper)
Steve Gan (1945 – present)

Steve Gan is a Chinese-born Filipino comics artist. He

is best known for co-creating Panday with Carlo J.
Caparas and Marvel Comics' Star-Lord and Skull the
Slayer.
 Star Lord Skull the Slayer
Ang Panday
(Marvel Comics) (Marvel Comics)
Ronnie del Carmen (1959 – present)

Filipino animator and voice actor. He co-directed and

was one of the story writers for the 2015 Pixar film
Inside Out, for which he was nominated for an
Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. He was
the story supervisor on Pixar's tenth full-length
computer-animated film, Up, and directed its
accompanying short film, Dug's Special Mission.
 My Name is Dug Batman Adventures:
Paper Biscuit
(children’s book) Holiday Special
Pol Medina Jr. (1960 – present)

Apolonio "Pol" Medina Jr. is a Filipino cartoonist best

known for his comic strip Pugad Baboy.
Pugad Baboy The Blood of Shinobi Coming of Age
Marcel Antonio (1965 – present)

Marcel Antonio is a Filipino painter. Considered one

of the most promising young talents in Philippine
contemporary art while still attending the University
of the Philippines' College of Fine Arts in
Maiden with Flowers Lovers in the Wood
Elmer Borlongan (1967 – present)

Elmer Misa Borlongan is a prominent contemporary

Filipino painter best known for his distinctive use of
figurative expressionism.
Clem Arnold Lawrence Arre (1971 – present)

Filipino comic book writer, artist and self-taught

animator best known for his graphic novels The
Mythology Class (1999) and Ang Mundo ni Andong
Agimat (2006). He was born in Metro Manila,
Philippines.
The Children of
After Eden Andong Agimat
Bathala
Adonis Durado (1975 – present)

Adonis Durado is a Filipino poet, visual journalist, and

graphic designer of Cebuano descent. He was born on
August 25, 1975, in Cebu City, Philippines. He is a fine
arts graduate from the University of San Carlos. In
2017, he received the Knight Fellowship from the
School of Visual Communication at Ohio University.
Durado's award-winning poster design for
Sa Atong Dila
the Women Photojournalists of
(book cover)
Washington
Wincy Aquino Ong (1982 – present)

Wincy Gerard Aquino Ong is a Filipino musician,

director, actor, writer, illustrator, and podcaster. He is
best known as the songwriter for the bands Narda
and Us-2 Evil-0, the director behind the films San
Lazaro and Overtime and the actor who played Sven
de Leon in the TV series Rakista.
Tales for a Rainy Journey to the
Expedition
Season Centerfold
Lynnor Bontigao (xxx – xxx)

Lynnor Bontigao is a Filipino-born author and

illustrator of children's books.
Ara Villena (xxx – xxx)

Ara Villena has a degree in Broadcast Communication

from the University of the Philippines, Diliman. The
Legend of the Cram by Reev Robledo is her first
Kenneth Kit Lamug (xxx – xxx)

Kenneth Kit Lamug is an American author, illustrator,

photographer and filmmaker. He is best known for his
children's picture book A Box Story, co-creator of the
independent film Vegasland, and his work on street
photography. For his illustrative work, he is also
known under the moniker Rabbleboy.