Purita Kalaw Ledesma

Purita Kalaw was born in Manila, the daughter of government official Teodoro M. Kalaw (1884-1940) and Purificacion (Pura) Villanueva Kalaw (1886-1954). Her mother Pura was a prominent writer and suffragist. Purita's sister Maria Kalaw Katigbak became a senator, as did their sister-in-law Eva Estrada Kalaw. Purita Kalaw studied fine arts at the University of the Philippines, and pursued further studies in art and design at the University of Michigan.[1] She held two master's degrees, one in education and one in art education, the latter completed when she was 72 years old.[2]

In 1948, Purita Kalaw Ledesma founded the Art Association of the Philippines,[3] and was president of the organization.[1] Purita Kalaw Ledesma also managed the family real estate company, L. P. Kalaw, Inc.,[4] and attended a conference in Boston in that capacity in 1960.[5]

Books by Purita Kalaw Ledesma include The Struggle for Philippine Art (1974, with Amadis Maria Guerrero); Edades: National Artist (1979, with Amadis Maria Guerrero, about Victorio Edades); The Biggest Little Room (1987, about the Philippine Art Gallery); and And Life Goes On (1994, an autobiography).[2][6][7][8] Her 1955 essay "A Critical Analysis of Modern Painting in the Philippines Today" is still considered an important text on the subject.[9] She also published a cookbook, Family Recipes, in the 1980s.[10]

Purita Kalaw married Rafael Ledesma.[11] They had four daughters, Rita, Consuelo, Ada, and Lourdes. Purita Kalaw Ledesma experienced a debilitating stroke in 2000, and died in April 2005, aged 91 years.[1]

In 2010 there was an exhibit of works by Filipino artists from Kalaw Ledesma's personal collection, held at Ayala Museum in Manila.[12] There is a Purita Kalaw Ledesma Prize for Art Criticism, presented by the Ateneo Art Gallery and the Kalaw-Ledesma Foundation, "to foster critical public discussion about exhibitions and artworks."[13]