Sculptures of Napoleon Abueva

Napoleon V. Abueva is known as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture" and recipient of the most prestigious award, National Artist of the Philippines in 1976 in the fields of Visual Arts (sculpture). He is known also as master of both academic representational style and modern abstract.

Abueva was born in Tagbilaran, Bohol in January 26, 1930. In 1951, he won the Pura Villanueva-Kalaw scholarship and finished Bachelor of Arts in Sculpture in University of the Philippines in 1953. He was mentored by another National Artist, Guillermo Tolentino, who is famous in Oblation and Bonifacio Monument. He won several competition in Art Association of the Philippines such as "Kaganapan" in 1953. In 1954 he recieved the Fullbright-Smith Mundt Scholarship and finished Master of Fine Arts in Cranbrook Academy. He later took graduate units in Ceramics at the University of Kansas and Art History at Harvard University. In 1976, he received the National Artist award and consider as the youngest who received this prestigious award at age of 46. In 1978, he was appointed Dean of the College of Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines, a position he held until 1989.In 1993, he was given an honorary doctorate in humanities and was promoted to University Professor. He retired from the University in June 1995, and was given the status of Professor Emeritus in April 2003. 

Abueva utilized almost all kinds of materials from hard wood (molave, acacia, langka wood, ipil, kamagong, palm wood and bamboo) to adobe, metal, stainless steel, cement, marble, bronze, iron, alabaster, coral and brass.

Among the major works of Abueva are as follows: Kaganapan (1953), Kiss of Judas (1955); The Transfiguration at the Eternal Garden Memorial Park (1979); Fredesvinda in Fort Canning, Singapore (1981); Nine Muses at the UP Faculty Center (1994); Sunburst at the Peninsula Manila Hotel (1994); the bronze figure of Teodoro M. Kalaw in front of National Library; Murals in Marble at the National Heroes Shrine, Mt. Samat, Bataan; 14 Stations of the Cross at the EDSA Shrine; Sandugo or Blood Compact shrine in Tagbilaran, Bohol.  He also performed the death mask procedures to the late Cardinal Sin and Fernando Poe Jr.

Some of his honors and awards are: Awardee, The Unknown Political Prisoner, in the International Sculpture Competition by the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London (1953); First Prize and Special Award, Kaganapan (Marble), in the Semi-Annual Art Exhibition by the Art Association of the Philippines (1953); First Prize, Kiss of Judas (Wood), in the Religious Art Exhibition in Detroit, Michigan, USA (1955); First Prize, Water Buffalo (Marble), in the Annual Show, at St. Louis , Missouri, USA (1956); First Prize, Figure (Wood), in the Annual Show of the Art Association of the Philippines (1957); Most Outstanding Alumnus of the School of Fine Arts, U.P. Golden Jubilee (1958); Republic Award for Sculpture (1959); Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines (TOYM) Awardee in Sculpture (1959); Winner, Cultural Heritage Award (1966); ASEAN Awards for Visual Arts in Bangkok (1987); Fourth ASEAN Achievement Award for Visual Arts in Singapore (July 1995).

Kaganapan, 1953 by Napoleon Abueva

Kiss of Judas, 1955 by Napoleon Abueva

Transfiguration, 1979 at Eternal Gardens Memorial Park

Fredesvinda,1981 at Fort Canning, Singapore

Nine Muses at the UP Faculty Center, 1994

Sunburst, 1994 at ThePeninsula Manila Hotel

The Bataan Memorial Cross designed by Napoleon Abueva
and Lorenzo del Castillo

A mural depicting the Death March at the colonnade

The Crucifix  with Double Corpora depicting both a suffering and a risen Christ

The Altar of Parish of the Holy Sacrifice by Napoleon Abueva

Tribute to Higher Education in UP Diliman by Abueva

Sandugo Monument (Blood Compact) in Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Balangiga Monument depicting the Balangiga heroism

Ang Diwata ng Dagat symbol College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and UPV

Napoleon Abueva's "Magdangal" sculpture

Neptune and Aphrodite at MWSS Lamesa Eco Park

The statue of Fr. Delaney by Napoleon Abueva at the Garden of Communions

Mural of Abueva at National Center for Mental Health

Allegorical Harpoon by Napoleon Abueva

Napoleon Abueva Sculpture at Ayala Museum

death masks of Benigno Aquino Jr. and Fernando Poe Jr.
as cast by National Artist Napoleon Abueva

Rizal Monument in Legazpi City by Napoleon Abueva

The Spirit of Business by Napoleon Abueva

The Flag Weavers by Napoleon Abueva

The Pegaraw-pegasus and tamaraw by Napoleon Abueva

Facade of Insular Building with Sculptures of Napoleon Abueva

Woman, bronze, 1966 by Napoleon Abueva

Sculpture of Abueva,1978 , hardwood, 15.9 x 11.8 in. 40.5 x 30 cm 

The Evelio B. Javier monument at the EBJ

Silhouette of Tres Marias in UP Diliman

Mother and Child by Napoleon Abueva

Mother and Child,1953 by Napoleon Abueva

Mother and Child by Napoleon Abueva

Napoleon Abueva's Marble Sculpture

Pieta in FEU by Napoleon Abueva

Rizal And Josephine by Napoleon Abueva

Wheel of Happiness, College of Fine Arts, UP Diliman

Abueva's work

Another sculpture of Abueva

bas-relief by Napoleon Abueva

Statue of Father Diego Cera in St Joseph Church

Abueva's works in 100 nudes 100 years

1976 Artwork by Napoleon Abueva

Three Graces buy Napoleon Abueva

sculpture by Napoleon Abueva made for Bismac in the early 60's

sculptures made by Napoleon Abueva

UP Seal by Napoleon Abueva

Mother and Child by Napoleon Abueva

Abueva's Work on Wood