BRENDA FAJARDO (born 1940, Manila) began her career in the visual arts as a printmaker and graphic artist before moving on to painting. She obtained her Master's degree in art education, at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, U.S.A.

 

1st Fold in the History of Philippine Life: Selfhood 14.5" X 21.5" ink on paper
She recently finished her Ph.D. in Philippine Studies at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, where she is currently a professor in the Department of Art Studies, College of Art and Letters. Fajardo held her first solo exhibition in 1994 although prior to that her works were included in a number of selected group exhibitions both in the Philippines and abroad. Last summer FajardoÕs work was included in the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco's exhibition "At Home & Abroad, 20 Contemporary Filipino Artists." A multi-awarded artist, she was granted the Thirteen Artists Award by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 1992. Most recently, she was given the Centennial Award for the Arts by the same institution to honor 100 outstanding Filipinos who have contributed to building the Filipino nation through art and culture in the last 100 years. Most of Fajardo's works carry strong historical and nationalist themes as well as depict folk and mythological tales. In her Tarot Card series, she indigenized the tarot images to convey a narrative of socio-political and colonial struggles in the Philippines. She is known for this genre of work and has earned distinction as one of the Philippines' artists of real significance.