Ed Defensor
Ed Defensor (b. 1945) is a self-taught artist who made a significant impact on Iloilo’s art scene with his first one-man show in 1980. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a sustained dedication to the visual arts, actively participating in exhibitions and assuming leadership roles in art organizations. Ed co-founded the Hubon Madiaas: The Panay Art Association in 1983, alongside National Artist Jose Joya, and became a Charter Member of the Arts Council of Iloilo, organized under the auspices of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
Ed’s contributions to the art world extend beyond Iloilo. As a Board Member of the Arts Council, he organized “Hublag: The Ilonggo Arts Festival,” an annual event celebrated from 1988 to 1996, which grew to become one of the country’s leading art festivals. He also played a crucial role in the establishment of the Visayas Islands Visual Artists Exhibition Conference (VIVA-EXCON), the longest-running biennale in the Philippines. In recognition of his expertise, Ed was elected as the first member of the newly-reorganized National Visual Arts Committee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) in 1995.
Ed Defensor’s artistic achievements have gained international recognition. He has held numerous one-man shows in Iloilo City, Manila, and New York, and has participated in group exhibitions in South Korea, Singapore, and North Africa. After retiring as an Associate Professor at UP Visayas, Ed received public art commissions, including the creation of the Lin-ay Sang Iloilo, an 18-foot bronze sculpture adorning the Iloilo City Hall, the Donato M. Pison Monument in Mandurriao District of Iloilo City, and the St. Ignatius Monument at the Ateneo De Iloilo.
Throughout his career, Ed has been honored with various prestigious awards. In 2010, the Visayas Biennale in Cebu bestowed upon him the “Garbo sa Bisaya,” Living Legends of Visayan Visual Arts Award. Other accolades include the Most Outstanding Professional Jubilarian in the Arts and Letters from the UP Alumni Association Iloilo in 2006, the Distinguished Ilonggo in the Visual Arts Award from the Iloilo Province in 2008, the JCI Regatta Pinoy Icon Juan Luna Award for the Visual Arts in 2013, and the Dungganon nga Dumangasanon Award from the Municipality of Dumangas in 2014.
In recognition of Ed Defensor’s artistic legacy, the UP Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage established the Ed Defensor Gallery in 2020. This dedicated space within the Museum showcases his works, which are found in the University’s art collection as well as those owned by other collectors. The gallery serves as a testament to Ed’s profound contributions to the world of art and his enduring influence on the visual arts community.
