Ben-Hur Gorospe Villanueva (October 28, 1938 – January 25, 2020) was a Filipino sculptor, painter, educator, lecturer, and art entrepreneur based in

Baguio Baguio ( , , ), officially the City of Baguio (; ; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, 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 María Corazón "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipino politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines and the first woman president in the country, from Presidency of Corazon ...

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, were a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of ...

. * 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) Andres or Andrés is a male given name. It can also be a ...

in Fort Bonifacio,

Taguig Taguig (), officially the City of Taguig (), is the List of cities in the Philippines, fifth-most populous city in the Philippines situated on the eastern shores of Metro Manila, the national capital region. It is a center for culture, finance ...

* Thy Will Be Done - a sculpture at the campus of

Saint Paul University Quezon City St. Paul University Quezon City (SPUQC), also referred to as SPU Quezon City, is a private, sectarian and coeducational university located in New Manila, Quezon City, Philippines. It was previously an all-girls' school and turned co-ed beginni ...

* St. Aloysius Gonzaga - a sculpture at the campus of

Saint Louis University Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Missi ...

in Baguio * Risen Christ - a statue in Caleruega,

Nasugbu Nasugbu, officially the Municipality of Nasugbu (), is a municipality in the province of Batangas, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 136,524 people. Several bus services provide transportation to and from Na ...

Batangas Batangas, officially the Province of Batangas ( ), is a first class province of the Philippines located in the southwestern part of Luzon in the Calabarzon region. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 2,908,494 people, making ...

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 Grade School in

Quezon City Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...

, 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 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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