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Art in the Palace

As you tour the spaces of Porto Palácio, you have the opportunity to discover the work of some of the greatest contemporary Portuguese artists. Welcome to a space of culture and rich in art, where you can admire a collection of works that have been acquired since the hotel opened, some of which have more than 30 years of history.

Authors & Works

  • Paulo Neves

    Paulo Neves is a Portuguese visual artist born in Cucujães, Oliveira de Azeméis, Portugal, on January 25, 1959. His passion for sculpture began in the 1980s, which has continued to evolve since then, particularly in the field of so-called art public, currently being among the most representative names in contemporary Portuguese sculpture.

    Throughout his career, Paulo Neves participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, both in Portugal and abroad, gaining great recognition and some prestige for his work.

    The VÓRTICES Exhibition is one of his many creations in wood, a material that played a fundamental role in the excellence of his works, allowing him to explore its natural textures and intrinsic shapes. Through his sculptures, Paulo Neves finds the balance between organic and abstract forms, presenting works that combine a sense of fluidity and a strong connection with nature.

    Paulo Neves
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  • Bicachair E Pedro Cabrita Reis Alexandre Caldas 08 Web

    Pedro Cabrita Reis

    Pedro Cabrita Reis is a renowned Portuguese artist, known for his contemporary works that explore the relationship between architecture, sculpture and installation. Born in Lisbon, on August 19, 1956, he stood out as one of the main figures of contemporary art in the country and gained some international recognition due to his unique artistic contributions.

    Pedro Cabrita Reis' work is often characterized by the use of industrial materials and architectural elements, such as iron, glass and light, combined to create thought-provoking and emotionally charged environments. His works often challenge viewers' perception, inviting them to interact and reflect on what they are observing.

    In addition to his large-scale works, Cabrita Reis also creates more conventional paintings, drawings and sculptures, showing his versatility as an artist and ability to adapt to different forms of expression. The artist has received numerous awards and some of his works are present in the collections of important museums and art institutions around the world.

    One of Pedro Cabrita Reis' works was created in 2007 and can be found at the hotel's entrance.

Escultura Pedro Cabrita Reis

  • João Cutileiro

    João Cutileiro was a Portuguese sculptor and was born in Lisbon on August 26, 1937. He was considered a prominent figure in contemporary sculpture in Portugal, being known for his bold and expressive works, mostly made of materials such as marble and bronze.

    João Cutileiro's art was marked by a unique approach and a differentiating style. His sculptures depict stylized human figures, exploring themes of mythology, religion and human nature. This artist was known for capturing the essence of the human form with remarkable technical skill, while also managing to impart a sense of movement and emotion to his sculptures.

    This artist has some of his works in solo and group exhibitions around the world. His art has gained international recognition and is appreciated by collectors, art lovers and critics from all corners of the planet.

    “The design of the work involves the way of doing it and the way of doing it involves doing it in the moment” - João Cutileiro

    João Cutileiro
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  • Fotografia Amandio Silva

    Amândio Silva

    Amândio José da Silva was born in the city of Porto in 1923 and graduated in Painting from the School of Fine Arts, with a perfect grade average of 20 out of 20.

    In the 1950s, he received three scholarships to study painting and tapestry in Paris, later becoming a professor of Painting. He also worked as a draftsman, engraver, lithographer, designer, illustrator, caricaturist, tapestry maker, ceramist, set designer, sculptor, and photographer.

    [...] Now, Amândio Silva – a multifaceted artist (painter, watercolorist, draftsman, engraver, lithographer, designer, illustrator, caricaturist, tapestry maker, fresco painter, stained-glass artist, ceramist, set designer, sculptor, photographer, poet), a professor committed to classical knowledge and to disciplinary and pedagogical innovation, an art curator and cultural promoter, a collector of postcards, sacred and oriental art, and a mountaineer/alpinist – neglected one of his principal dimensions, the one that most reveals his essence: Painting. He neglected it not in terms of production, but in terms of exhibition. Committed to many pursuits and major causes – including the promotion of the work of both the living and the departed, the emerging and the established – this painter, despite being encouraged or challenged to reveal his secret studio, his impressions of transience, kept postponing his solo retrospective, due to an excess of self-demand and the enchantment of other endeavors. [...]

    Excerpt from the text/testimony “A painter who only wished to exist in the future” by César Príncipe, in the book “Amândio Silva 1923–2000”, Ed. Caleidoscópio, 2006

    He passed away in Porto on July 27, 2000.

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  • João Álvaro Rocha

    João Álvaro Rocha was born in Viana do Castelo on January 10, 1959, died in September 2014 and studied Architecture at the Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto between 1977 and 1982. He began his career as an architect in 1982, working mainly in the metropolitan area from Porto.

    In 2016, he was honored in a ceremony at the Matosinhos City Council, organized jointly with Casa da Arquitetura and FAUP, where colleagues and admirers paid tribute to his legacy.

    His remarkable career has been recognized with several national and international awards, including the Gulbenkian Architecture / Design Award and the AAP / IPE National Architecture Award from the Order of Architects, among others.

    This author designed houses, collective housing, equipment and services, as well as urban projects in several cities. João Álvaro Rocha also taught Architecture in different Higher Education institutions, both in Portugal and abroad.

    He developed the panel, which dates back to 1985, which is located outside the hotel at the entrance.

    Álvaro Rocha
João Alvaro Rocha

  • Irene Vilar

    Irene Vilar was a Portuguese visual artist who was born in Matosinhos on December 11, 1931 and died in Porto on May 12, 2008. In her works, she opted for a creative and innovative approach, which involved different formats, such as painting, photography, sculpture and installation.

    The artist participated in several individual and collective exhibitions in Portugal and abroad, gaining recognition and acclaim for her contribution to the contemporary artistic scene, being one of the few Portuguese women to have her name honored as the name of a street (Praceta Irene Vilar). The artist was also the author of the 2 euro coin that marked the Portuguese presidency of the European Union in 2007.

    Most of Irene Vilar's art had a greater focus on themes related to identity and the body, exploring issues of gender, ancestry and memory. Her works reflect a deep investigation into the human condition, addressing social and cultural issues with great sensitivity.

    Irene Vilar (2)
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“A ciência descreve as coisas como são; a arte, como são sentidas, como se sente que são.”
Fernando Pessoa Writer