Hernando Ruiz Ocampo was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila on April 28, 1911. A self-taught artist, he pursued a career spanning different disciplines before committing himself to visual art. From 1928 to 1931, he attended different institutions, studying pre-law at Letran College, commerce at Far Eastern University, and creative writing at Valenzuela School of Journalism. Notably, he was also a fictionist, playwright, journalist, and screenwriter for various periodicals and television programs.

As one of the pioneers of Modernism in the Philippines, Ocampo was included in Victorio Edades’ list of “Thirteen Moderns,” which included artists who gained prominence during the postwar years for exploring themes that conveyed the inner realities felt after the war. Ocampo’s earlier works captured the tumultuous times of the 1930s and World War II. Eventually, in the postwar years, his paintings went on to depict more abstract subjects inspired by the landscape of the Philippines, as well as the science fiction genre. Ocampo used bold color palettes and biomorphic shapes, which he would color by humorously mimicking the ‘paint by the numbers’ activity. The chromatic lushness he captured in his paintings brought the Philippine modernist movement to new aesthetic heights.

Ocampo was a recipient of many accolades, including numerous awards from the Art Association of the Philippines, Manila Club Art Exhibition (1949), Republic Cultural Award (1965), Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award (1969), and Diwa ng Lahi Award (1976). Until his passing, he was a member of the Saturday Group. He died on December 28, 1978 in Caloocan at the age of 67. He was posthumously awarded the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1979, and the National Artist for Visual Arts Award in 1991.

Visit the Ateneo Art Gallery!

Address

Soledad V Pangilinan Arts Wing, Areté
Ateneo de Manila University
Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights
Quezon City, Manila, Philippines 1108

Get Directions Navigate Using Waze

Contact

Telephone

+632 8426 6001 loc. 5392

Telephone

+632 8426 6488

Email

aag@ateneo.edu

Social Media

Facebook

@ateneoartgallery

Instagram

@ateneoartgallery

Twitter

@ateneogallery

Copyright 2025 Ateneo Art Gallery - Ateneo de Manila University.
Powered by Passion.