Alfredo Coelho

Alfredo Coelho, born in 1959, has a remarkable history that crosses continents and his art reflects the influence of different cultures. Born and raised in Angola, during the Civil War, he moved with his family to Brazil in 1974, where his artistic career began to take shape. Initially, his aspirations were directed towards architecture, however, over time, his passion for painting grew exponentially. From 1980 onwards, he immersed himself fully in art, leaving aside the path of architecture to follow his vocation of painting. The move to Rio de Janeiro marked the beginning of his professional journey as a painter, exploring not only painting, but also other forms of artistic expression, such as wood and iron sculpture. His art expanded to photo manipulation, the creation of installations and forays into video. Europe was a milestone in his life, initially residing in Germany and later in Portugal, where he remained for around 20 years. During this time, he participated in approximately 60 exhibitions, both individual and group, spread across Portugal, Brazil, Spain, France and Germany. His diverse art found space in public and private collections, such as the Museum of Modern Art (Resende – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Banco de Macau (Portugal), Museu Diogo Gonçalves (Porto) and Fundação Ouro Negro (Lisbon), as well as private collections. He received recognition in different artistic events, winning the First Prize for Painting (public choice) and the Merit Prize at the first PortArt – International Art Fair of Portimão/Algarve (1991), and the First Prize for Painting at the XIII Art Exhibition from Itatiaia – RJ/Brazil (1995). His work is referenced in significant art books such as "Portuguese Contemporary Painting – 100 artists", edited by Manuel de Sousa and Ernesto Neves (2009, Portugal); "Aspects of Fine Arts in Portugal", edited by F Infante do Carmo (1992, Portugal); "The artist and his market", published by Adrian Publishers (1993, Brazil), among others. At the moment, Alfredo Coelho lives and works in Germany, continuing to portray the human essence and nature in her works, often involving eroticism and sensuality to capture the beauty and harmony of the female body. His artistic work is marked by several solo exhibitions and awards, consolidating his presence in the contemporary art scene.