Arturo Rogerio Dimayuga Luz (November 26, 1926 – May 26, 2021[1]) was a Filipino visual artist. He was also a known printmaker, sculptor, designer and art administrator.

Arturo Luz
Born
Arturo Rogerio Dimayuga Luz

(1926-11-26)November 26, 1926
Philippines
DiedMay 26, 2021(2021-05-26) (aged 94)
Philippines
Occupation(s)Artist, Art administrator
Spouse
Teresita Ojeda
(m. 1962; died 2019)
Children4
AwardsOrder of National Artists of the Philippines
Ochre III by Arturo Luz, acrylic on paper, 23 inches x 36 inches, 1981. In the Art Collection Samito Jalbuena

A founding member of the modern Neo-realist school in Philippine art, he received the Philippine National Artist Award, the country's highest accolade in the arts, in 1997.[2]

Education

edit

Luz attended the School of Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He also went abroad to study at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland from 1947 to 1949, the Brooklyn Museum Art School in New York from 1949 to 1950, and the Académie de la Grande Chaumiere in Paris from 1950 to 1951.[1][3]

Early career

edit

While Luz was pursuing college, he began exhibiting his works. At the 1962 International Art Salon in Saigon, South Vietnam, Luz won first prize for his work. He also garnered an award from the California Art Association, and was a recipient of the Republic Cultural Heritage Award for Painting of the Philippine Republic in 1966. He was also recognized as the Outstanding Young Man In Art by The Manila Times.[1]

Later career

edit

Luz produced art pieces through a disciplined economy of means. His early drawings were described as "playful linear works" influenced by Paul Klee. His best masterpieces were minimalist, geometric abstracts, alluding to the modernist "virtues" of competence, order and elegance; and had been further described as evoking universal reality and mirrors an aspiration for an acme of true Asian modernity.[4]

From 1976 to 1986, Luz served as the first director of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila and is a frequent participant of exhibits held at the museum.[1] He owned the Luz Gallery, which according to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts "professionalized the art gallery as an institution".[5]

 
Luz museum nameplate

Personal life

edit

Arturo was married to Teresita Ojeda (February 16, 1930 – April 28, 2019), with whom he had 4 daughters, including the late singer Paola Luz, (February 11, 1964, – August 26, 1991) at age 27, and former actress and model Angela Luz.[6][7] He has a granddaughter named Paulina Sotto, the daughter of Angela Luz, who would also become a visual artist.[8]

Death

edit

He died on May 26, 2021, at the age of 94.[5]

Further reading

edit
  • Reyes, Cid. Arturo Luz. Manila: Ayala Foundation and The Crucible Workshop, 1999.

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "In Memoriam: The Legacy of National Artist Arturo Luz". Tatler Philippines. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "Film sketches National Artist Arturo Luz - Good News Pilipinas -". Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Arturo Luz, Le Delarge.
  4. ^ Endaya, Imelda Cajipe (artist and independent curator) and Cecilia B. Rebong (Philippine Consul-General). "Pamana: Modernong Sining" (A Heritage of Modern Art), An Art Exhibit from the Collection of the Philippine Center in New York, Printed Catalogue, The Consulate General of the Philippines, Philippine Center Management Board, and PCGNY.net, June 11, 2007, 12 pages.
  5. ^ a b "UST mourns death of National Artist Arturo Luz – Manila Bulletin". Manila Bulletin. May 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Caruncho, Eric (April 30, 2019). "Tessie Ojeda Luz passes away at 89". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  7. ^ "Paola's story". The Philippine Star. August 21, 2016.
  8. ^ Acar, Aedrianne (May 28, 2021). "Paulina Sotto on Sachi and her Lolo Arturo Luz: "So blessed that they were able to meet"". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
edit