Anita Magsaysay-Ho

Anita Magsaysay-Ho (born Anita Corpus Magsaysay; May 25, 1914 – May 5, 2012) was a Filipina painter who specialized in Social Realism and post-Cubism in regard to women in Filipino culture. Magsaysay-Ho's work appeals to Modernism by utilizing more abstract designs and styles rather than realistic approaches. She was the only female member of the "Thirteen Moderns," a standing group of Filipino modernist artists, and in 1958 was chosen by a panel of experts as one of the six major painters of the country's history. The most famous work of Magsaysay-Ho are subject to the beauty of Filipino women dealing with everyday issues.

Biography

Anita Magsaysay was born in 1914 in Manila. Her parents were Armilla Corpus and Ambrosio Magsaysay, an engineer. A cousin of Anita was Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, whose father Exequiel was a brother of Ambrosio. At thirteen years of age, she studied at the School of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines (UP), where she took instruction from prominent Filipino painters like Fabian de la Rosa, Fernando Amorsolo, and his brother Pablo Amorsolo. Over the span of 50 years, this family moved to thirty different houses after living in Manila together for fourteen years. Wherever she lived, Anita had access to a studio, where she spent most of her time painting.

In 1958, the Manila Chronicle formed a panel of experts who decided that Magsaysay-Ho is one of the most significant painters to go down in the history of the Philippines. This was a record high price for any Filipino artist during their lifetime. A senate resolution was filed by Senator Franklin Drilon recommending Magsaysay-Ho to be conferred the National Artist Award for her contributions to Filipino modern art. The resolution ultimately did not pass as Magsaysay-Ho died a Canadian citizen.

Awards 2nd prize at the Manila Grand Opera House Exhibition (1950) for "Five Senses" 1st prize of The Philippine Art Association (PAG) (1952) for "Cooks" 2nd prize of The Philippine Art Association (PAG) (1953) for "Fruit Vendors" 1st prize of The Philippine Art Association (PAG) (1959) for "Mending the Nets" 1st prize of The Philippine Art Association (PAG) (1960) for "Two Women" 2nd prize of The Philippine Art Association (PAG) (1962) for "Trio"

Collections There are collections of Anita Magsaysay-Ho in:

The Ateneo Art Gallery, Manila, Philippines. The Lopez Memorial Museum and Library, Pasig, Philippines. The Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Manila Philippines. The Yuchengco Museum, Makati City, Philippines. Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, Iloilo, Philippines