Romulo Olazo (1934–2015) was a Filipino painter and printmaker celebrated for his monumental abstractions and mastery of transparency. Born in Balayan, Batangas in 1934, Olazo studied Fine Arts at the University of Santo Tomas, graduating in 1958.
He is best known for his “Diaphanous” series, a unique body of prints and abstract paintings that sensitively reveal overlapping layers of soft light and shadow. This series established him as a master of transparency and layering, creating luminous works that are both meditative and monumental.
In 1972, Olazo received the CCP Thirteen Artists Award, recognizing his innovative contributions to Philippine contemporary art. Over the course of his career, he held more than 35 solo exhibitions, notably at the Luz Gallery, Finale Art File, and the Ayala Museum. His international presence was affirmed by representing the Philippines in prestigious exhibitions in Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo, and São Paulo.
Olazo was awarded the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan by the City of Manila in 1980, and his stature was further recognized when he was included in the book Thirteen Painters for the 21st Century, edited by Ana Labrador. In 2009, he was honored with a forty‑year retrospective exhibition at the Ayala Museum, celebrating his enduring influence on Philippine abstraction.
