An artist-writer, Alfredo Roces obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA. in 1954. He took an extra years drawing studies under the well known German Dadaist, George Grosz at the Arts Students League of New York from 1955 to 1956. He has had more than 20 One Man Shows and participated in numerous groups shows including major shows at the National Museum of the Philippines and the most recent one at the Metropolitan Museum of the Philippines.
Voted Artist Of The Year by the prestigious Art Association of the Philippines in 1975 and a Grand Prize winner at the AAPs 25th Annual Show, Roces has gained equal prominence as a writer, named one of Ten Outstanding Young Men in 1961 and Columnist of the Year (Light and Shadow, Manila Times) in 1971. His monograph on National Artist Cesar Legaspi won the Manila Art Critics National Book of the Year Award. He has authored 11 books and designed a good number. He was editor in chief of Filipino Heritage a ten volume study on Philippine culture and history, and after moving to Australia in 1977 served as editor of Geo Australasia's Geographical Magazine for 12 years. He was a daily columnist for the Manila Times from 1961 to 1972.
Now a free lance artist writer, Roces painting has returned from the abstract and assemblage work to figurative imagery. He has just completed a family history and biography of his brother Rafael Liling Roces jr., who was martyred during World War II. A book on Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo and the Generation of 1872 is due for release in August, and he is currently working on painter Ang Kiu Kok.Major Solo Exhibitions  20-year Retrospective: Drawings. Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), 1974
Over 30 one-man-shows in the Philippines, including at the National Library (1963), Cultural Center of the Philippines (Small gallery) (1992), Ayala Museum (1992, 1993, and 1994).
In Australia: One Man show at the Philippine Consulate, Sydney
Australia, 1982
Major Group Shows National Museum of the Philippines, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Metropolitan Museum, various Art Association of the Philippines Annual shows, Kamalig Gallery, Luz Gallery, and Solidaridad Galleries.
In Australia: Watercolour Institute Annual Show at E. V. Erwing Museum 1981 & 1982; John Irving Gallery group exhibit of Philippine Artists, 1982; International Art and Photo Exhibition, Commonwealth Bank, 1983; The MetroSydney group, Dorian Grey Gallery, 1990; Mellow Mist Gallery, 1991; Museum of Contemporary Art "Images" Philippine Australian Artists Association, 1995. Awards in Art Green & Gold Artist: Centennial of Nicanor Reyes Sr., Far Eastern University, 1994
Artist of the Year: Art Association of the Philippines (AAP): 1975
Grand Prize, 25th Annual Show, AAP: 1972
Philippine representative, Paris Sud; France,1972
Honorable Mention: Graphic Division, AAP,1961
Third Prize, Students Art Show, University of Notre Dame, 1954
Silver Star, Students Art show, University of Notre Dame, 1950
Commissions Received Loyola Memorial, 1973
Convention Center of the Philippines, 1975 Works in the Collection of: National Museum of the Philippines
Cultural Center of the Philippines
Central Bank of the Philippines
Convention Center of the Philippines
Metropolitan Museum
Art Education Bachelor of Fine Arts, major in painting: University of Notre Dame, Indiana USA, 1954
Post graduate studies under George Grosz, Arts Students League of New York, USA | Publications Where Works Are Featured Art Philippines, by Juan Gatbonton (editor) Crucible Workshop,1992
Contemporary Philippine Art, by Manuel Duldulao,
Vera Reyes Inc., Manila,1972
Christian Art in Asia by Masao Takenana; Kyo Bun Kwan, Tokyo, 1975
The Struggle for Philippine Art by Ledesma/Guerrero,
Vera Reyes Inc., Manila, 1974
The Culinary Culture of the Philippines, edited by Gilda Cordero
Fernando, GCF Books, 1976
Filipino Nude by Alfredo Roces, Vera Reyes Inc; Manila, 1977
Ten Years of Saturdays, by Roces et al; Saturday Group, Manila, 1978
Drawings, monograph on the 20-year retrospective at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Infinity Inc., Manila, 1974
The National Museum Visual Arts Collection by Alice Guillermo, National Museum of the Philippines, Manila,1991 (catalogue listing only).
Books Written
In 1968, McCormick Mathers Publishing Company Inc. USA, published The Story of the Philippines, as part of a Know Your World Series; In 1985 with daughter Grace as co-author, Times International of Singapore published Culture Shock Philippines. A German translation Kultur-Knigge Philippinen was put out by Verlad Simon & Magiera in 1987. The English version has undergone reprints and is still in circulation after a decade. In the Philippines, wrote the following books: Legaspi: The Making of a National Artist, the Crucible Workshop, 1993 . This book won The Manila Critics National Book Award in 1993. Medals and Shoes: Political Cartoons of the Times of Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos, 1965-1992 (co-author Irene Roces), Anvil Publications, 1992 Philippine Cartoons: Political Caricature of the American Era 1900-1941 (co-author Dr. Alfred McCoy, Wisconsin University) Vera Reyes Inc. ,1985 Filipino Nude, Vera Reyes Inc. 1977 Sanso, General Bank and Trust Co., 1975 Amorsolo, Filipinas Foundation Inc. 1975 A recently completed art book is currently at the printers scheduled for release in mid-1998: Felix Resurreccion Hidalgo & and Generation of 1972, Eugenio Lopez Foundation, Inc. Editor in Chief for a ten volume study on Philippine history and Culture entitled Filipino Heritage,The Making of a Nation published by Lahing Pilipino in 1978. In Australia, Editor of Geo, Australasia's Geographical Magazine for 12 years until retirement in 1990. In the 60s, wrote a daily editorial column Light And Shadow for the Manila Times from 1961-72, until Martial law silenced Marcos' critics. Books Illustrated and Designed Books Illustrated
The Complete Poems and Plays of Jose Rizal Translated by Nick Joaquin, Far Eastern University Press, 1976
Stories of Long Ago, Panama Inc., 1966
Where Slaves There Are None, Far Eastern University Press; 1959
Of Cocks and Kites, Benipayo Press, 1958 Books Designed
Legaspi, the Making of a National Artist, Crucible Workshop, 1993
Medals and Shoes, by Alfredo and Irene Roces, Anvil Publishing, 1992
Philippine Cartoons, by Alfred McCoy and Alfredo Roces, Vera Reyes, 1985
Filipino Heritage vols. 4 to 10, Lahing Pilipino, 1978
Sanso, by Alfredo Roces, Luis Ma. Araneta/Gen Bank, 1976
Amorsolo by Alfredo Roces, Filipinas Foundation, 1975
Drawings by Alfredo Roces, Infinity Inc., 1974 |
