About Me

Lui Buan is a visual artist and educator. Lui holds a degree in Art Studies, with a focus on Interdisciplinary Arts from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and is currently earning a masters in Art History from the same university. His ongoing MA research is a critical exploration of wordless picturebooks in the Philippines. He also holds a diploma in Computer Technology, with a focus on Digital Animation.

Since 2019, he has published picture books under major Philippine publishing houses like Lampara House and OMF-Hiyas Literature on meaningful topics such as environmental stewardship, elder care, emotional well-being, and fostering inclusivity. One of his books emerged from a collaborative project between Lampara Publishing House and Room to Read, a California-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing children’s literacy and educational equity. Among his most cherished book projects is the new edition of the award-winning Filipino classic children’s story, “Federico”, written by prominent Filipino author Eugene Y. Evasco. The book was thoughtfully illustrated with respect for children with Down syndrome.

The “commercial” and stylized appeal of Lui’s artworks reflects his lifelong interest in animation and sequential art. He received formal training in traditional two-dimensional animation under the guidance of veteran Filipino animator Gilbert ‘Gibet’ Torres in 2011.

Alongside being an art practitioner, Lui wants to pursue research on Philippine children’s book illustration, animation, and similar media. As an educator, he has worked as a lecturer at the Asia Pacific College High School Department and also taught university-level General Education humanities courses at the University of the Philippines Diliman. Lui has interest in art history, cultural studies, and picturebook research.

He is a member of Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK), Philippines’ first and only organization of professional illustrators, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), a US-headquartered global network of children’s book writers, educators, and artists, and a National Book Development Board (NBDB) registered illustrator.