Born in Lisbon in 1937, João Cutileiro is doubtless one of Portugal’s most famous sculptors. From 1955 to 59 he studied at the Slade School of Art in London with Reg Butler. Henry Moore was then artist in residence at the Slade. These two artists have had significant influence on Cutileiro's development.

In 1970 Cutileiro returns to Portugal, first to Lagos, Algarve until he moves to Évora, Alentejo in 1985 where he still lives and works. Since 1966 he has worked only in marble - Portuguese marble in all its tonalities. His multifaceted work reflects a poetic imagination in constant move (continuous mutation). His monuments, dedicated to historical figures, reveal a vision of the heroe taken by surprise under his most unusual aspects.

His career, which started in 1951 - when he was only 14 years old - is marked by a great number of individual shows - culminating in a retrospective exhibition at the Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon, in 1990 - and also group exhibitions throughout Portugal, the major European countries, the United States and Asia.

This exhibition presents works of the 80ies and 90ies from a private collection.

José de Guimarães | close