Imao is Filipino painter and sculptor. He was named National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts in 2006. A Tausūg, Imao is the first Moro to receive the recognition. Aside from being a sculptor, Imao is also a painter, photographer, ceramist, cultural researcher, documentary film maker, writer, and a patron of Philippine Muslim art and culture. 

CATEGORY:  VISUAL ART

Imao was born on 1936 in Siasi, Sulu. Imao spent most of his childhood in the town of Pata, also in Sulu. His family came from a generation of tokang or boat makers dating back to the precolonial era. At the age of nine, Imao began to show interest for the arts.

In his early life, the Philippine Navy held a floating exhibit named LST which hosted works of Filipino artists just like Fernando Amorsolo, Botong Francisco and Vicente Manansala, etc. Imao conversed with Tomas Bernardo, who was in-charge of the exhibit, about painting and asked if Imao was into the discipline. Imao presented Bernardo some of his works who later took Imao to Manila.

Imao was married to Grace Bondoc de Leon, an art dealer from Santo Tomas, Pampanga and they had four sons.

FUN FACT!!💡

Did you know that Imao was a fisherman and by being a fisherman for five years during the Japanese occupation where he saw so many colorful fishes and said "I was inspired by them, because of their color.” and that is one of the reasons why he created the Sarimanok Series. Most importantly, Islamic faith is also a source of inspiration in his art as evidenced in his sculptures composed of elements of Allah's name through Arabic calligraphy. 

Imao wrote to then President Ramon Magsaysay to seek a study grant. Jose Maria Ansaldo, aide to the President, helped Imao enter college at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. Imao entered as a pensionado of the Commission on National Integration. Among his mentors at the university were Guillermo Tolentino and Napoleon Abueva, who preceded him as National Artists. Imao graduated from the university with the degree Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture.

In 1960, Imao entered the University of Kansas in the United States as a Smith Mundt and Fulbright Scholar. Imao was able to qualify for the top 20 slots of the scholarship. In 1962, Imao earned his Masters of Fine Arts in Sculpture, major in Metal Brass Casting. From 1962–1963 at the Rhode Island School of Design, Imao honed his craft as a scholar taking Creative Sculptor in Ceramic Technology.

Imao also entered the Columbia University in New York City under the Columbia Faculty Scholarship in the tuition of Dr. Lloyd Burden. who developed the first color processing for Kodak. Imao studied documentary motion picture and photography at the university.

In 1963, Imao received the New York Museum of Modern Art Grant to Europe and Scandinavia becoming the first Asian recipient of the grant.

On 9 June 2006, Imao was named with the National Artist of the Philippines for Sculpture. Imao was also recognized as a brass-making consultant of the United Nations. 

Imao was a multifaceted artist known for his work as a painter, sculptor, photographer, ceramist, cultural researcher, documentary filmmaker, and writer. His art is characterized by vibrant colors and motifs such as the sarimanok, fish, and okir patterns, which are deeply rooted in Philippine Muslim culture.

His career was marked by a dedication to integrating traditional Filipino motifs with contemporary art forms, thereby preserving cultural heritage while innovating within the art world. 

• 1963 - First Asian recipient of the New York Museum of Modern Art Grant to Europe and Scandinavia 

• 2006 - First Muslim recipient of the Philippine National Artist Award