Ben-Hur Gorospe Villanueva (pronounced as ben hur) (October 28, 1938 – January 25, 2020) was a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

sculptor, painter, educator, lecturer, and art entrepreneur based in

Baguio Baguio ( , ), officially the City of Baguio ( ilo, Siudad ti Baguio; fil, Lungsod ng Baguio), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. It is known as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", ...

. He has also served as a president for the Society of Philippine Sculptors (SPS), as Art director for the Ephpheta Foundation for the Blind, Inc., and as vice president-treasurer for Unesco's International Art Association (IAA).

Notable works

Ben Hur Villanueva is best known as a sculptor, working with brass, metal, and wood. Notable sculptures by Villanueva include: * Kapit-Bisig - a commemorative Narra wood sculpture of four figures locking arms, which was presented by President Corazon Aquino to the Filipino people on the first anniversary of the

1986 EDSA Revolution The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of c ...

. * Among Supremo - a sculpture of

Andres Bonifacio Andres or Andrés may refer to: *Andres, Illinois, an unincorporated community in Will County, Illinois, US *Andres, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in Pas-de-Calais, France *Andres (name) *Hurricane Andres * "Andres" (song), a 1994 song by L7 See also ...

in Fort Bonifacio,

Taguig Taguig (), officially the City of Taguig ( fil, Lungsod ng Taguig), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 886,722 people. Located in the northwestern shores of ...

* Thy Will Be Done - a sculpture at the campus of Saint Paul University Quezon City * St. Aloysius Gonzaga - a sculpture at the campus of Saint Louis University in Baguio * Risen Christ - a statue in Caleruega, Nasugbu,

Batangas Batangas, officially the Province of Batangas ( tl, Lalawigan ng Batangas ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Calabarzon region on Luzon. Its capital is the city of Batangas, and is bordered by the provinces of Cavite and La ...

He held regular art exhibitions around the Philippines, and also occasionally exhibited in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Singapore, Helsinki, and Havana.

Teaching career

Villanueva spent 30 years teaching arts at the

Ateneo de Manila University , mottoeng = Light in the Lord , type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution , established = December 10, 1859 , religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic ( Jesuits) , academic ...

Quezon City Quezon City (, ; fil, Lungsod Quezon ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read in Filipino as Kyusi), is the most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 2,960,048 people. It was fou ...

, Philippines. In interviews he said this experience convicted him of the importance of the school motto, "''Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam''" (For the greater Glory of God and A Man for Others). "Every individual has his/her artistic inclinations and propensity be it visual, music, dance, literary, or fashion and so he/she has the right to enhance and utilize it creatively," he is quoted as saying. "Sharing it with others is what makes our life more meaningful and blessed."

Retirement to Baguio and Arko ni Apo

Keeping these beliefs in mind, Villanueva moved to Baguio upon retiring from teaching at Ateneo in 1992. He put up an arts workshop, ''Arko Ni Apo'' ( Ilocano: ''Ark of the Lord''), and he started spearheading various art-related activities catering to people ranging from professionals, educators, students, young artists, television/film writers and directors, street children, to various religious groups.

Death

He died on January 25, 2020, in Baguio, Philippines.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Villanueva, Ben Hur 1938 births 2020 deaths 20th-century Filipino sculptors 21st-century Filipino sculptors Filipino painters 20th-century Filipino educators 21st-century Filipino educators People from Baguio Academic staff of Ateneo de Manila University