Paula Rego (1935 Lisbon – 2022 London) became known for her political collages in the early 1960s. From the mid-1960s, she devoted herself primarily to painting, drawing, and printmaking, developing her typical magical realist style with grotesque scenes dominated by female figures. Her motifs and subjects are dedicated to themes such as pregnancy, aging, abuse, betrayal, mental suffering, aggression, and oppression. Characteristic of Rego's depictions of women is their physical presence. The carnality of the firm, muscular, compactly voluminous bodily forms is far from a sensually sexualized, masculine view of the female body. The hands of her protagonists are large and strong, they grip, they carry, they hold, they support. The faces are edgy and expressive. The spectrum of emotions ranges from inner tension and expectation to concern, fear, exhaustion, fright, despair, and solicitude. It is often the gaze of Rego's struggling figures that addresses directly and immediately the viewer, expressing the complexity of the characters' emotions.
Drawing is the basis of Paula Rego's artistic work. Her sketches, executed with pencil or colored pencil and powerful strokes, document the vitality and spontaneity of the moment of idea generation. The graphic oeuvre comprises more than 280 works in various etching and lithography techniques. In addition, there are proofs, subsequently produced color versions of originally monochrome sheets, new editions revised at a later date, and unique, hand-colored copies. In 1998, she created an important series of paintings on the subject of abortion, followed by a ten-sheet etching cycle on the same subject the following year. In their rhythmic seriality, the etchings are brutal, authentic, and empathetic at the same time. The intimate format requires a close approach. The artist creates a confidential dialogue between the depicted subject and the spectator. In a touching way, Rego bears witness to the mental state of her protagonists. Other works dealing with the subject of female genital mutilation can be placed in this context: Etchings like "Circumcision" and "Stitched and Bound", both from 2009 and with impressive sheet dimensions of 120 x 110 cm each, document the artist's constant preoccupation with social practices through which women are oppressed. In these shockingly disconcerting scenes, Rego's pronounced sense of the macabre and her ability to combine horror with comedy are expressed.
Paula Rego tirelessly translated the abysses of human existence into narrative pictorial structures in which the private, the political, and the social are interwoven into a distinctive microcosm. The emphasis and determination with which her work is gaining public visibility beyond Great Britain and Portugal, can be attributed above all to the universal power of her expressive figurative imagery, the vehemence of her pictorial narrative ability, and the significance of the content she treats. In her multifaceted artistic production, Rego repeatedly focused on themes that revolve around power relations in family constellations or conflict-ridden relationship structures, violence, pain, death, sexuality, and the social role of women. With reference to narrative contexts derived from folk myths, fables, or fairy tales, her images – wonderful and disturbing at the same time – activate the collective memory and evoke childhood memories deeply rooted in the individual subconsciousness. Paula Rego has succeeded in condensing complex questions into simple visual formulas that have the quality of being universally readable, yet reflect subjective experiences and the most intimate situations.
Paula Rego (1935 Lisbon – 2022 London) studied at the Slade School of Art in London from 1952 to 1956. From the second half of the 1950s she lived with her husband and their children mainly in Ericeira (Portugal) until the family moved to London in 1975. She has received numerous honorary doctorates, including from Oxford University in 2005, Universidade de Lisboa in 2011, and the University of Cambridge (UK) in 2015. In 2010, the artist was appointed "Dame Commander of the British Empire" by the British Queen. In 2009, the Casa das Historías Paula Rego museum dedicated to her opened in Cascais, near Lisbon. In 2022, a larger complex of works by Rego, consisting of paintings and fabric figures, has been on display in the central pavilion of the 59th Venice Biennale. On June 8, 2022, Paula Rego died in London at the age of 87. Her works are in important international museums at home and abroad.
Selected solo shows: 2022 kestnergesellschaft, Hanover; 2022 Museo Picasso, Málaga; 2021/2022 Kunstmuseum Den Haag; 2021 Tate Britain, London; 2020 Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; 2019/2020 Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, (Edinburgh); 2018 Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris; 2013 Casa das Historías Paula Rego, Cascais (Portugal); 2012 Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon; 2008 National Museum of Woman in the Arts, Washington; 2007 Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; 1997 Tate Gallery London; 1988 Serpentine Gallery, London.
Press
Jedes Bild ein Machtkampf, und sie siegt, Ursula Scheer, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 10.05.2022Vita
1935
Paula Rego is born in Lisbon
1952—1956
Studies at the Slade School of Art in London
1956—1963
Lives in Ericeira, Portugal, with her husband, the painter Victor Willing, and her three children
1962—1963
Bursary from the Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon
1976
Settles permanently in London
1983
Visiting Lecturer in Painting at Slade School of Art
1990
Appointed the First National Gallery Associate Artist
1992
Honorary Master of Art, Winchester School of Art
1999
Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of St. Andrews, Scotland Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of East Anglia, Norwich
2000
Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Rhode Island School of Design, USA
2002
Honorary Doctorate of Letters, The London Institute
2004
Grã Cruz da Ordem de Sant'Iago da Espada presented by the President of Portugal
2005
Commissioned by the Royal Mail to produce a set of Jane Eyre Stamps Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Oxford University Honorary Doctorate of Letters, Roehampton University
2010
Made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to Art by the Queen of the United Kingdom Won the Penagos de Dibujo prize, awarded by Fundación MAPFRE, Madrid
2011
Honorary Doctorate, proposed by Faculdade de Belas-Artes, from Universidade de Lisboa
2013
Elected Honorary Fellow of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge Receives Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso (Consagration Prize), Municipal Museum Amadeo de Souza Cardoso, Amarante, Portugal
2015
Honorary Doctorate of Letters from University of Cambridge
2016
Receives the Honors Medal of the city of Lisbon
2017
Receives Maria Isabel Barreno prize
2019
Receives the Portuguese Government's Medal of Cultural Merit Distinguished by the magazine Harper's Bazaar with the Lifetime Achievement
2022
Paula Rego dies in London on June 8, 2022, at the age of 87
Selected Solo Shows
2024
Machtspiele – Kunstmuseum Basel
The Personal and the Political – Museum Folkwang, Essen
2023
Letting Loose – Victoria Miro, London
Rupture and Continuity – Côa Museum, Vila Nova de Foz Côa
Drawing Breath – Lelong, Paris
Crivelli's Garden – The National Gallery, London
2022
Paula Rego. There and back again – Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover
Paula Rego. Fragmente einer Sprache des Körpers – Jahn und Jahn, Munich
The Story of Stories – Pera Museum, Istanbul
Histórias de todos os dias. Paula Rego: Anos 70 – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
Secrets of Faith – Victoria Miro, Venice
Literary Inspirations – Petersfield Museum, Petersfield
2021
Paula Rego – Tate Britain, London
Paula Rego – Museum de Reede, Antwerp
Paula Rego. An Enduring Journey – Cristea Roberts Gallery, London
2020
Paula Rego. The Scream of Imagination – MACNA Museu de Arte Contemporânea Nadir Afonso, Chaves
2019
Paula Rego. Obedience and Defiance – MK Gallery, Milton Keynes; Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh; Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin
Giving Fear a Face – Centro de Arte Tomás y Valiente CEART, Madrid
Paula Rego. Writing Drawings, Staging Stories – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
Paula Rego. Looking in – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2018
The Cruel Stories of Paula Rego – Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris
Paula Rego. From Mind to Hand. Drawings from 1980-2001 – Marlborough Fine Art, London
Paula Rego. Folktales and Fairy Tales – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais, Portugal Paula Rego: The 80's – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2017
There and Back Again. Paula Rego, Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
Paula Rego. Depression Series – Marlborough Fine Art, London
Paula Rego. Secrets and Stories – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
Family Sayings. Paula Rego – La Virreina Centre de la Imatge, Barcelona
Paula Rego: The Boy Who Loved the Sea and Other Stories – Hastings Contemporary, Hastings
Paula Rego: The Sketchbooks – Pallant House, Chichester
2016
Old Meets New. Paula Rego – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
Paula Rego. Dancing Ostriches – Marlborough Fine Art, London
Paula Rego. On the Beach – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2015
Paula Rego. Cousin Bazilio and Other Stories – Galería Marlborough, Madrid
The Poacher. Paula Rego – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2014
Paula Rego. Fábulas Reales – Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Gas Natural Fenosa, La Coruña
Paula Rego. The Last King of Portugal and Other Stories – Marlborough Fine Art, London
2013
Paula Rego. The Dame with the Goat’s Foot and Other Stories – Marlborough Fine Art, London
As Óperas e a colecção Casa das Histórias – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2012
Paula Rego – Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon
Paula Rego. Balzac and Other Stories – Marlborough Fine Art, London
Paula Rego. Mood/Humor – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2011
Oratório – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
The Proles Wall Years – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
The Body Has More Elbows – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2010
Paula Rego – Museum of Contemporary Art, Monterrey, Mexiko; Pinacoteca de São Paulo, Brazil
Paula Rego. Oratório – Marlborough Fine Art, London
Paula Rego. The 70's - Folk Tales and Other Stories – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2009
Paula Rego – Casa das Histórias Paula Rego, Cascais
2008
Human Cargo – Marlborough Chelsea, New York
Paula Rego. Rétrospective de l’oeuvre graphique – École supérieure des beaux-arts de Nîmes, Nîmes
2007
Paula Rego – Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington D.C.
Paula Rego. Graven Images – Waterhall Gallery of Modern Art, Birmingham
Paula Rego. O Vinho, A series of Eight Lithographs – Marlborough Fine Art, London; Galería Marlborough, Madrid
2006
Paula Rego – Marlborough Fine Art, London
2005
Paula Rego. Printmaker – Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh; Victoria Art Gallery, Bath; University Gallery, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne; Royal College of Art, London
2004
Paula Rego – Serralves Museum, Porto
Paula Rego – Tate Britain, London
2003
Paula Rego: Pendle Witches – Hebden Bridge Arts Festival, Linden Mill, North Yorkshire
Paula Rego. Jane Eyre and Other Stories – Marlborough Fine Art, London; Marlborough Chelsea, New York
2002
Paula Rego. Nursery Rhymes e Outras Gravuras (Nursery Rhymes and Other Prints) – Parque das Nações, Lisbon
2001
Paula Rego. Celestina’s House – Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal; Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Connecticut
2000
Paula Rego. Pendle Witches, Children’s Crusade and Drawings – Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal
1999
Paula Rego. The Children's Crusade. A Suite of 12 Etchings – Marlborough Graphics, London
Paula Rego. O Crime do Padre Amaro (Paula Rego; The Crime of Father Amaro) – Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon Open Secrets. Drawings and Etchings by Paula Rego – University Art Gallery, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth; Centre Cultural Calouste Gulbenkian, Paris
Paula Rego. Nursery Rhymes – White Gallery, Brighton
1998
Paula Rego. The Sins of Father Amaro – Dulwich Picture Gallery, London
Paula Rego. Pendle Witches and Peter Pan – Midland Art Centre, Birmingham
Paula Rego. Pra Lá et Pra Cá – Galerie III, Lisbon
1997
Paula Rego – Tate Gallery, Liverpool; Fundação das Descobertas, Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisbon
1996
Paula Rego. Pendle Witches – Marlborough Graphics, London
1995
Paula Rego. Nursery Rhymes and Peter Pan – Annandale Galleries, Sydney; Charles Nodrum Gallery, Melbourne
1994
Paula Rego. Dog Women – Marlborough Fine Art, London
1992—1993
Paula Rego. Peter Pan and Other Stories – Marlborough Fine Art, London
1991
Paula Rego. Tales from the National Gallery – The National Gallery, London; Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Plymouth; Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester; Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon
Paula Rego. Nursery Rhymes – British Council travelling exhibition in Europe
1988
Paula Rego – Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon; Casa de Serralves, Oporto; Serpentine Gallery, London
1987
Paula Rego. Selected Work 1981-1986 – Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales and UK tour Edward Totah Gallery, London
1985
The Art Place, New York
1984
South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell Midland Group, Nottingham
Edward Totah Gallery, London
1983
Arnolfini, Bristol
Galerie Espace, Amsterdam
1982
Edward Totah Gallery, London
1981
AIR Gallery, London
1978
Galeria III, Lisbon
1977
Módulo Centro Difusor da Arte, Oporto
1975
Módulo Centro Difusor da Arte, Lisbon
1974
Galeria da Emenda, Lisbon
1972
Galeria Alvarez, Porto
1971
Galeria São Mamede, Lisbon
1965
SNBA, Lisbon
