Lope De Navo Jr., the renowned fashion photographer, painter, and author, has passed away. His sister, Donna Navo, shared the news on Instagram, revealing that he succumbed to nosocomial pneumonia with hypoxia.
“His departure has left an immense void in our hearts, but we take comfort in the love, kindness, and cherished memories he shared with us,” she wrote.
Navo’s career was a testament to his relentless pursuit of art in all its forms. A Fine Arts graduate (cum laude) with a background in oil painting, he first made a name for himself in Manila’s art circles before setting off on a journey that took him across the globe. From the Middle East to Berlin, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, and Brazil, his artistic eye captured the essence of fashion, culture, and human expression.
Though best known for his work behind the camera, Navo’s artistry extended beyond photography. His paintings were exhibited in competitions, collected by aficionados, and eventually led him to merge his fine art sensibilities with editorial and commercial photography.
His lens told stories for international fashion titles such as L’Officiel Hommes, Esquire, Rodeo, and Fiasco, while in the Philippines, he became known for his striking campaigns, including iconic images for Michael Cinco, Bench’s EDSA billboards, and magazine covers for Garage, Metro, and more.
One of his career milestones was his collaboration with the House of Dior, where his work, “Carnaval de Cores,” premiered at Instituto Tomie Ohtake in São Paulo, Brazil in 2013. The piece later toured Taipei, Art Basel Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Berlin, earning him a place among photography greats like Peter Lindbergh, Bruce Weber, Nan Goldin, and David Lynch.
In 2024, he released “Brazilandia,” a visually striking 195-page book that captured the raw energy of Brazil’s landscapes and people. Sensual, powerful, and deeply evocative, the book became a tribute to the beauty of the country and the intensity of Navo’s artistic vision.
Lope Navo's legacy is one of bold creativity and an uncompromising commitment to his craft. His work, spanning continents and mediums, will continue to inspire artists and dreamers alike.