Born on June 3, 1931, Jose Joya is acclaimed for pioneering abstract expressionism in the Philippines. He graduated with a Fine Arts degree from the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Fine Arts in 1953, and a year later, was awarded a one year grant by the Instituto de Cultura Hispanica to study painting in Madrid, Spain. In 1956, Joya obtained a Master’s degree in Painting from the Cranbrook School of Art in Michigan through a Fulbright-Smith-Mundt grant.

Joya’s earlier works, from the years 1949 to 1953, were mostly representational; but by the late 1950s, he had gradually shifted towards abstraction. His use of harmonious colors was directly inspired by the local landscape, as well as kinetic energy and spontaneity. This is evident in his gestural paintings wherein paint is applied intuitively using brushes or spatulas, or directly across the canvas from the tube.

Upon his return to the Philippines, he began painting with Hubock White—an inexpensive alternative to white oil paint—and worked with a palette knife to create dynamic and exciting textures. His style also incorporated thick, flat color blocks resembling boulders, reflecting a visual and formal reduction inspired by nature.

Joya served as President of the Art Association of the Philippines from 1962 to 1965, Chairperson of the National Committee on Visual Arts, and Dean of the UP College of Fine Arts from 1970 to 1978. He has also received numerous recognitions throughout the years, among them the Ten Outstanding Young Men Award in 1961, the Republic Cultural Heritage Award, and the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining in 1991. In 2003, he was named National Artist for Visual Arts.

Joya passed away on May 11, 1995.

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