Manuel Baldemor

Manuel Baldemor (b. 1947) is a Filipino artist of many talents: erudite in painting, sculpture, writing, book illustration, and printmaking, Baldemor’s signature manipulation of color has captivated global audiences. Born and raised in Paete, Laguna, Baldemor’s exposure to the craft was rooted in the folk arts of his hometown: papier mache, dollcraft, and replicas of carabao and fish. He pursued his passion for the arts at the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts, earning him a degree in Painting in 1968.

In history, Baldemor is believed to be the most traveled Filipino artist, having served as artist-in-residence in over five countries including Israel and Mexico, and exhibited as soloist in over thirty cities including Paris, Copenhagen, and Cairo. A philanthropist as well, he has helped build a school in Albay with royalties from the sales of his UNICEF Christmas cards, a remarkable feat given that his designs had been chosen for reproduction for eighteen straight years. Multiple murals of his can be found in institutions worldwide: Pasasalamat (1997) at the United Nations building in Vienna, and most notably, Philippine People Power (2009) at the Basilica of St. Therese de Lisieux in France, to name a few. He has received a total of twenty awards and several grants, participated in over a hundred one-man exhibits, engaged in over twenty group exhibits, written two books, and has been featured in over ten books and publications.