Fil Delacruz


Filimon "Fil" Delacruz is a National artist nominee, visual artist and a master printmaker who specializes in mezzotint prints, a printmaking process used to achieve producing half tones without the use of line or dot based techniques such as hatching, stippling and pointillism. His works is known for being rich in ethnic imageries and indigenous symbols. He is a former president of the Philippine Association of the Printmakers and a former senior lecturer of college of fine arts in University of the Philippines Diliman.

Early life and education

Delacruz was born on November 22, 1950, in Hagonoy, Bulacan. He is the father of Janos Delacruz, an award-winning printmaker. He studied in University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts and pursued Advertising major. He went to New York to be part of Art Students' League in 1983 and in 1992, he attended a lithography workshop in Paris, France to study printmaking techniques and at the same time, he was named by the Cultural Center of the Philippines as one of the Thirteen Artist Awardees, a triennial and prestigious award granted by the Cultural Center of the Philippines. During his early years, he is fond of participating national competitions, which he wins consistently especially in the annual art competition by the Art Association of the Philippines. He is an awardee of Benavidez Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Career history

From 1992 to 1995, Delacruz worked as a senior lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts in Diliman, Quezon City. After years of teaching, he was appointed as the president of the Philippine Association of Printmakers in 1995. He is also a president of Lakansining ng Bulakan. His works has been exhibited in France, New York, New Jersey, Czechoslovakia, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Korea, Spain, Belgium, and in the Philippines. He is currently residing in his studio named "Bahay Sining", which is located in Muntinlupa together with his son, Janos and Dax. Delacruz is holding art workshops in the Artist Gallery BF located in Paranaque.

Awards, distinctions and achievements

AwardYearCompetition
First prize1971YMCA 19th Annual Students Art Competition of the Philippines
First honorable mention19721st AFA Group Sculpture Contest, UST
Second honorable mention19722nd Annual on-the-Spot Painting Contest, Public Recreation Bureau
First honorable mention1973Photography Contest, UST Annual Students’ Art Competition
First prize1973Graphic Arts Competition, UST Annual Students’ Art Competition
Benavidez Awardee1973University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts
Honorable mention1974Rotary Club, On-the-Spot Watercolor Painting Contest
Grand prize1975Bancom Graphic Arts Competition
Gold medal198034th Annual Art Competition, Art Association of the Philippines
Grand prize198235th Annual Art Competition, Art Association of the Philippines
Finalist1982First International Biennial for Print, Republic of China
Grand prize198336th Annual Art Competition, Art Association of the Philippines
1985Outstanding Bulakeño in the Field of Arts
Honorable mention1986Art Association of the Philippines, Rotary Open Art Competition, Graphic Art Experimental Category
Second prize1986Art Association of the Philippines, Rotary Open Art Competition
Best entry1989-1980Light Foundation Art Competition
1992Philippine Representative to the Republic of Nambia, Global Print Porfoliio
Thirteen Artists Awardee1992Cultural Center of the Philippines
Senior lecturer, College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City1992-1995-
President, Philippine Association of Printmakers1995
First prize1998Graphic Arts Category, National Commission for Culture and Arts Third Biennial Arts Competition