Paco Gorospe

Who was Paco Gorospe?

Francisco "Paco" Gorospe was a Filipino painter, called the "Picasso of the Philippines".

Paco Gorospe is one of the famous painters of the Philippines. He was born in Binondo, Manila. He was inspired by the simple and colourful lifestyle of native tribes from the south of the country such as the Yakans, the Bogobos and the Tausugs.

He joined a local group of artists in Ermita, Manila and sold his paintings locally, gradually gaining recognition. Paco started with crayons, later using water colours but finally shifted to oil paintings.

Gorospe's first major exhibition took place in 1962 at the Washington State Fair. US sales increased and in 1964 his works were chosen to represent the Philippines at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Other foreign exhibitions followed including Okinawa, Japan, Baden-Baden, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark.

In 1990, his work Sabungeros was chosen by Philippine Airlines for the cover of their playing cards given to passengers.