National Artist

Benedicto Reyes Cabrera or BenCab, as he is more popularly known is widely hailed as a master of contemporary Philippine art.

He was born in Manila on April 10, 1942 in Malabon, Philippines. He is the youngest of nine children born to Democrito Cabrera and Isabel Reyes of Pampanga.

BenCab began carving a niche for himself in Manila’s art circles shortly after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines in 1963.

A painter and printmaker, he has exhibited widely in the Philippines and in Asia, Europe, and the United States. He has won several major art awards in a career spanning four decades. In 1992, he received the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining (Cultural Center of the Philippines Award for the Arts).

In 2006, he was conferred the Order of National Artist for Visual Arts by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in Malacanan Palace.

His works have been the subject of four books, Ben Cabrera: Etchings (1970-1980) by Cid Reyes; Bencab’s Rock Sessions by Eric Caruncho; BENCAB by Alfred Yuson and Cid Reyes. BenCab: Nude Drawings by Alfred Yuson.

The artist lives and works in Baguio City. He has three children: Elisar (born in 1971), a filmmaker based in London; Mayumi (born in 1973), a model and actress currently living in Los Angeles; and Jasmine (born in 1977), a fashion stylist working in London.