site.btaGallery Rivoli Showcases Contemporary Portuguese Street Art

An exhibition of contemporary Portuguese street art is on at Sofia's Rivoli Gallery from January 30 until February 28, the organizers said.

The exhibition brings together leading artists who capture the spirit of Lisbon, Porto, Faro and other Portuguese towns through a mix of colours, textures and cultural influences.

Mani-Kure, aka brothers Lorenzo and Filippo Fiumani, born in 1987 and 1989, display eight artworks. They share an artistic vision which combines stencil art with freehand painting. Their work reflects the essence of street art. "Each of Mani-Kure's paintings is an original piece. The brothers have attracted serious interest from collectors in Europe, the US and Asia," the organizers said.

Another featured artist is Goncalo Reis, aka Gongas, a young graffiti artist from Lisbon. He is the son of the legendary graffiti artist Nomen. Having been surrounded by street art his entire life, Gongas was influenced by his father. While building on a rich artistic heritage, Gongas stands out as an innovator with his unique blend of graffiti and pop art. His works are characterized by bright colours, dynamic textures and the profound influence of Lisbon street art.

Nomen, a pioneer of graffiti art in Portugal, is also featured in the exhibition. "The entire art community mourned his passing in 2022. Nomen's art was born on the streets. He was a self-taught artist whose universe was defined by immense diversity. His interaction with urban spaces began in the 1990s, from early illegal train and wall graffiti to large-scale works in both exhibition and institutional settings," the organizers said. His works have been showcased in numerous exhibitions, events and artistic productions in Portugal and abroad.

The artist FUR is featured with two paintings. Born in Angola in 1978, he moved to Portugal. He began painting graffiti on walls as early as 1994. He is considered an underground graffiti artist known for his stylish tags. After years of working in the shadows, he stopped painting on the streets in 2003 and decided it was time to transfer his art onto canvas so that it could be truly appreciated.

RAM is Portugal's first professional graffiti artist. He left behind a successful career as a graphic designer and teacher at Lisbon's Professional School of Graphic Arts in 2000. Considered one of the most innovative artists on the global urban art scene, he is represented in the Gallery Rivoli exhibition by a single painting. Unique, magnetic and prolific, he has participated in countless art festivals, events, solo and group exhibitions worldwide.