Biography

AntonioMacedoSiteAntónio Macedo is a fine artist who studied at the Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto (Oporto School of Fine Arts). As a result of the years spent in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, his work shows clear influences of Anglo-Saxon culture. He works mainly as a painter and sculptor, with a definite realist style, and he is also known as a portrait painter.

Oil Painting is his medium of choice, and his subjects, other than portraits, include the feminine figure, draperies, still-life, symbolic and magic realism, as well as scenes from ordinary life.

Amongst his numerous portraits are those of the President of the Portuguese Parliament, Dr. António Almeida Santos, the Bishops of Oporto D. Armindo Coelho and D. Manuel Clemente and those at the Constitutional Court, Dr Artur Maurício and Dr Luis Nunes de Almeida. Paintins of his can be seen in several institutions, both public and private and he has exhibited both on his own and collectively, national and internationally. His works are referred to and illustrated in numerous publications, specially those published by Galeria Cordeiros and their associates.

Highlights:

First Prize (Stanley Grimm) at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters exhibition, in 1989
Honorable mention at the Placência Bienal Exhibition in 1999
Member of Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes
Member of Cooperativa Árvore
Referred to in Dicionário de Pintores e Escultores Portugueses de Dr. Fernando de Pamplona

Academic Qualifications:

António Macedo obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with the Open University In the United Kingdom, and before that, he attended Art School in Oporto (Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto).

Professional Training:

In 1975 he moved to London, and later on to Tunbridge Wells, where after training with a local picture restorer, he became technical consultant to the Pantiles Gallery, in that town. His work as a painter was then promoted by John Whiteley Ltd, in London and later on by W.H. Patterson Gallery in Albemarle Street, London.

Having had training in sculpture at Art School, he has produced pieces of sculpture from 1986 onwards.
His ever-present interest in painting materials and techniques developed through the close study of works from the past, the conservation work done in collaboration with picture restorers, through the production of copies and works inspired in the great periods of picture making.

Career:

1969-73: A.M. discovers a passion for Drawing and Painting and develops his skills in this area, through contacts with fellow students and established artists but mainly through his own efforts.

1973-74: He attends the local Art School (Escola Superior de Belas Artes do Porto) in the courses of Painting and Sculpture which were taught simultaneously in the first years of a student’s degree.

1975: Unsatisfied with the teaching methods at Art School, he travels to London where he takes up residence, and where he continues his research in the painting methods of the past and makes some contacts amongst practicing artists of the day. Two painters were of great help in this period: Daniel Samuels, and Harold Hitchcock. His work starts to be promoted by John Whiteley Ltd in London.

1977: He moves from London to Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where he starts his apprenticeship in oil painting conservation techniques with local picture restorers.

1978: He becomes part of a small group of artists whose work is promoted by the Pantiles Gallery, in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

1979: He exhibits at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, at Burlington House, Piccadilly.

1982: He exhibits at a collective show at the Gillridge Gallery in Mayfield, East Sussex.

1983: First one-man show at the Fundação Engenheiro António de Almeida, Oporto.

1984: Second exhibition at the Fundação Engenheiro António de Almeida, Oporto. He participates in several collective shows both in Portugal and in the U.K. and his work is then sold and promoted by W.H. Patterson Gallery, London.

1986: One-man show at the Galeria do Museu Municipal de Aveiro. He also completes his BA degree with the Open University in the U.K. He starts producing pieces of sculpture as well as paintings (including portraits ) from this time onwards. (e.g. portrait bust of his father).

1987: His work is promoted and sold through Christopher Wood Gallery (London). He participates in several collective exhibitions In Portugal, Japan, France and the U.K.

1988: One-man show, again at the Fundação Engenheiro António de Almeida, Oporto

1989: He is invited to have a one-man show in Santa Maria da Feira’s Town Hall. He has work in several collective shows too, and wins the first prize (Stanley Grimm) at the exhibition of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (Mall Galleries, London).

1991/92/93/94: He participates in several collective exhibitions in Portugal, Germany and the U.K.

1995: One-man show at Galeria Narareth (Oporto). One-man show at Galeria Euroarte (Lisbon) and a number of other collective exhibitions.

1996: One-man show at the Fundação António Cupertino de Miranda (Oporto). He also participates in a collective show at Galeria Mellado (S. Lorenzo del Escorial-Madrid, Spain).

1997: He participates for the first time in the “Mestres de Pintura” collective shows at Galeria Cordeiros (Oporto).

1998: His work starts being sold and promoted in Portugal by Galeria Cordeiros (Oporto); first one-man show at Galeria Cordeiros, and other collective shows, namely the Vila Nova de Cerveira bienal exhibition. Honorable mention at the Bienal de Arte de Placência (Spain).

2000: One-man exhibition in Coimbra, at the ” Sala da Cidade”, and other collective shows in Portugal.

2001: One-man show at Galeria Cordeiros (Oporto) and other collective Exhibitions.

2002/03: He participates in several collective exhibitions organised by Galeria Cordeiros.

2004: One-man exhibition at Galeria Cordeiros, and several collective shows organized by the Gallery.

2005, 2006, 2007: He participates in a number of collective exhibitions organized by Galeria Cordeiros2008: Art Madrid, Arte moderna e contemporânea, exposição colectiva de pintura e escultura (Galeria Cordeiros)

2009: One-man show at Galeria Cordeiros, and several collective exhibitions such as Madrid Art Fair, Fiart Valência, arte moderna e contemporânea.

2010: He participates in a number of Art Fairs with Galeria Cordeiros: Art Madrid, Museu da Alfândega, Oporto, Colectiva de pintura, VI Contemporary Art Fair – Marbella, Centro de Congressos do Estoril.

2011: He participates in a number of Art Fairs and collective exhibitions: Art Madrid, Art Moscow, Art Toronto, Contemporary Istambul, and other exhibitions organized by Galeria Cordeiros.

2013: He participates in Figurativas 13, Fundació de les Arts i els Artistes (MEAM- Barcelona), Art Monaco, Zona Maco (Mexico), India Art Fair (New Delhi), Art Stage (Singapore), Colectiva de pintura, Galeria Cordeiros.

2014: Collective exhibitions and Art fairs: Silicon Valley Contemporary, San José, California (Galeria Cordeiros).

2015: “Una otra realidad” Collective exhibition by Fundación Arcilla in the Centro Cultural La Vaguada, Madrid, and other exhibitions organized by Galeria Cordeiros (Cordoaria-Lisbon, Art Miami, USA).