Artist’s Spotlight

Cid Reyes

Cid Reyes stands as a remarkable figure in Filipino artistry, expertly navigating both the roles of an artist and an art critic. With a strong educational foundation acquired through a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from De La Salle University, he embarked on a transformative journey of artistic exploration. This pursuit led him to Rome, where he was granted a scholarship by the Italian government to hone his painting skills at the Academy of Fine Arts. Subsequently, he continued his academic voyage by delving into the intricacies of art history at the City Lit Institute in London.

Reyes embarked on his artistic voyage with his first solo exhibition in 1969 at Joy Dayrit’s Print Gallery. Over the years, he continued to share his artistic creations through exhibitions at various esteemed venues, including Solidaridad Gallery, The Hyatt Hotel, West Gallery, The Drawing Room, Ricco-Renzo Gallery, and Galerie Astra. To date, he has curated an impressive total of 20 solo exhibitions.

In art criticism, Reyes’s achievements began to flourish when he clinched the Grand Prize in an AAP art criticism competition. He further solidified his place in the field with the publication of the groundbreaking book “Conversations on Philippine Art,” a collection of interviews. Over the course of a decade, from 1995 to 2004, Reyes contributed to the art community through his weekly art column, “Gallery Hopping,” in TODAY, where he meticulously crafted over 500 art reviews.

His literary contributions extend beyond critiques, as he authored coffee-table books dedicated to National Artists such as Arturo Luz, BenCab, J. Elizalde Navarro, and Napoleon V. Abueva, among others. Additionally, Reyes penned numerous art books, highlighting the works and contributions of artists like Malang, Augusto Albor, Lao Lianben, Charito Bitanga, Valeria Cavestany, and Edwin Wilwayco. His writings also encapsulate significant art competitions, including the “Decade of Achievement” for the Philippine Art Awards and the art competition “MADE of Gold” sponsored by Metrobank.

Reyes’s collaborative efforts are equally noteworthy, with co-authorship credits for “Tanaw: The Central Bank Art Collection” and “Herencia: The BPI Art Collection.” His more recent literary endeavors revolve around Spanish artist Betsy Westendorp and the art collection of the MVP Group of Companies. Looking ahead, Reyes’s forthcoming publications are poised to explore the works of notable figures such as the glass sculptor Ramon Orlina, Prudencio Lamarroza, Roy Veneracion, and the commemoration of the Saturday Group’s 50th Anniversary.

In recognition of his contributions to the world of art and criticism, the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) awarded Reyes the “Best in Art Criticism Award” in 1979. In 2015, the Government of Pampanga honored him with the “Most Outstanding Kapampangan in the Arts” award. Most notably, in 2021, Reyes’s coffee-table book “MVP: The Man and His Art” achieved a historic milestone by winning a GOLD Trophy from the American Business Awards. This accolade marked the first time a Philippine art book garnered international acclaim, solidifying Reyes’s legacy as a multifaceted creative force in the art world.