Birth Anniversary of Rodolfo Samonte

Posted on:  |  National Museum of the Philippines

Rodolfo Samonte’s Serigraph IX, 1974, on loan from the collection of the Philippine Center New York
After more than four decades, Rodolfo Samonte reunites with his serigraphs from the Philippine Center New York Collection. These serigraphs were created from 1973 to 1974. This photo was taken during the artist’s visit to the National Museum of Fine Arts on June 7, 2022.

For this week’s #ArtStrollSunday, and as we greet artist and printmaker Rodolfo Samonte on his 81st birthday, we are featuring his ‘Serigraph IX” from the collection of the Philippine Center New York. 

Serigraph IX is part of the “Philippine Center New York Core Collection of 1974: A Homecoming Exhibition.” This exhibition is at Galleries XXVII and XXVIII, Fourth Floor, National Museum of Fine Arts. This serigraph print, colored in layers of greens and yellows, was completed in 1974 during the height of Samonte’s career as a printmaker. During this period, he also created large-format paintings using automotive paint. He learned serigraphy from his UST professor, Cenon Rivera. His interest in printmaking further developed after his frequent visits to the Philippine Association of Printmakers (PAP) studio workshop at Philippine Women’s University (PWU). He recalled picking up scrap etching plates, drawing or putting acid on them, and joining them together to create works. Arturo Luz (1997 National Artist for Visual Arts) was impressed by his serigraphs that he invited Samonte for an exhibition in Luz Gallery. Serigraphy or screen printing is a printmaking technique wherein printing ink is forced through a screen. The method gained popularity in USA and Britain in the 60s. Samonte is credited as one of the pioneering figures of serigraphy in the Philippines. 

Born in Manila in 1941, Samonte graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from UST in 1964. The UST School of Architecture and Fine Arts (UST SAFA) was under the directorship of Victorio Edades during this period. Galo Ocampo and Cenon Rivera, who were part of the faculty of the UST SAFA, became his favorite professors. After graduation, the artist worked in a printing shop in Quezon City and eventually in advertising firms such as Advertising and Marketing Associates (AMA), and Ace-Compton Advertising. He received many recognitions and awards, including the annual art competitions by the Art Association of the Philippines and the PAP. In 1974, the City of Manila presented him with the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award for his artistic contributions. In 1979, he moved to the United States of America. Samonte now resides in Burbank, California.

We invite you to view “Serigraph IX” and his 11 other works at the PCNY Homecoming Exhibition! We are open Tuesdays-Sunday, 9 AM to 6 PM. Know more about the PCNY Homecoming Exhibition by viewing the 360-degree Virtual Tour through this link: https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/pcny360/HTML5/pcny360.html

Happy Museums and Galleries Month and see you at your National Museum!

Article and photos by the NMP Fine Arts Division.

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