Joana Vasconcelos: Gâteau, 2011
Following an economic recession, Portugal is finally sticking out in the international contemporary art world.
While pilling up prizes as one of the best international touristic destinations, Portugal has also a wealth of artists of recognized brilliancy and a prime museum selection. Names such as Joana Vasconcelos and Paula Rego greatly contribute to the artistic and cultural world of the country. Museums like the Berardo Collection, Gulbenkian, Culturgest, MAAT, MNAC, Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Serralves, the Museum of Contemporary Art Nadir Afonso, Elvas Museum of Contemporary Art, together with the renowned art fair ARCOlisboa, bring high visibility to the art scene throughout Portugal. Get to know ten artists that have shown proof of their talent.
ADRIANA MOLDER
Has won the CELPA / VIEIRA DA SILVA Prize in Plastic Arts (2003) and the Herbert Zapp Preis für Junge Kunst Award (2007). Her photographic work has a dark, cinematographic expression. She exposes in Portugal, Spain and Germany.
CARLA FILIPE
Uses a variety of elements and materials in her works, while playing with the permeable relationship between objects, popular culture and activism. She exposes in Portugal, Spain, Brazil and Switzerland.
CATARINA BOTELHO
Won the BES Revelation Prize (2007). Her works evoke the timelessness and materiality of every-day objects. Exposes in Lisbon, Germany and Spain.
FERNANDA FRAGATEIRO
Expresses herself in sculpture and installations, introducing subtle alterations to sceneries and existing objects. Exposes in Lisboa, Porto and Spain.
JOANA VASCONCELOS
Créditos da imagem: Joana Vasconcelos
Very well recognized at international level, she was the first woman, in 2012, to expose at the Palace of Versailles and at Bilbau’s Guggenheim. Her creations strike out for their color, size and the appropriation of existing objects.
JULIÃO SARMENTO
Créditos da imagem: Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado
His work is characterized by fragments of images inserted in a quite never explicit erotic concept. He has represented Portugal at the Venice Biennale (1997). Exposes in Paris, Venice and São Paulo.
PAULA REGO
Créditos da imagem
Her work is well known and recognized, both within and outside Portugal. She has been awarded honoris causa doctoral degrees by several universities. Her paintings evoke power and perversion through the female figure.
PEDRO CABRITA REIS
Créditos da imagem
Represented Portugal in 2003 at the Venice Biennale. Has gained attention through his sculptures and installations, exposing in Berlin, Venice and Brazil.
SANTIAGO RIBEIRO
Créditos da imagem
Won the Flávio Gagliardi Prize in Plastic Arts (2010). Uses a collage technique in his creations. Exposes in Brazil, Spain and Paris.
VASCO ARAÚJO
Créditos da imagem
Won the EDP Prize for New Artists in 2003. His work expresses des-construction and the relationship between the individual and the world. Exposes in Sidney, Venice, Moscow and Brazil.
Article produced in partnership with Ins Portugal
