Artur Bual
Artur Bual (Lisboa, 1926 – Amadora, 1999) was one of the most important Portuguese artists of the second half of the 20th century, mainly in the area of gestural painting, for which he was considered a pioneer and a reference in Portugal. After attending the António Arroio Decorative Arts School, he started his artistic career and began showing his work in the beginning of the 1950’s. In 1952, he came third in the exhibition An American in Paris, in Lisbon and, two years later, he participated in the 1st Salon of Abstract Art, organised by historian José-Augusto França, in his Março Gallery. Meanwhile, his works were present in the most important group exhibitions of his time, such as the General Exhibitions of Plastic Arts of the National Society of Fine Arts (SNBA), the 1st Exhibition of Plastic Arts of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and SNBA’s 1st Salon of Modern Art (1958); he was also a regular presence abroad, and in 1959 he received a third prize at the 1stParis Biennial, in France. His activity went beyond painting, creating frescos for twelve chapels in Alentejo and Ribatejo, as well as mosaic-panels for the Amadora train station and for the Lisbon subway. He was also graphic director for the Contravento magazine, plastic director of various stage settings organised by Teatro Experimental of Cascais and Oporto, and he was responsible for the illustration of the books Supreme Instinct, As Alegres Noites de um Boticário and Rencontre avec culture Portugaise. In the 1970’s he was present at the International Art Encounters of Caldas da Rainha and Vila Nova de Cerveira, organised by the Alvarez Group. He received the Amadeo de Souza Cardoso National Prize, in 1959 and the MAC’Career Award (Contemporary Art Movement), in 1997. His work is represented in important collections, such as the Justice Palace of Lisbon, the Modern Art Centre of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, in various national museums and City Halls.
FMV, August 2020
