José de Guimarães: Graphic Works
The Nicolau Nasoni Gallery is presenting a new group exhibition of contemporary art, opening on November 14, 2026, in Porto.
The exhibition brings together a collection of graphic works by José de Guimarães, one of the leading figures in contemporary Portuguese art, whose artistic practice is distinguished by his exploration of imagery, symbolism, and the relationship between different cultures.
As part of Bombarda’s Christmas exhibition and program, the Nicolau Nasoni Gallery is also hosting a roundtable discussion titled “Conversations on Contemporary Art” on December 12, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The event will bring together invited artists for a conversation about their careers, artistic practices, and creative processes, providing a space for sharing and reflection on different approaches to artistic creation and fostering dialogue between artists and the public.
The exhibition will be on view through February 2027 at the Nicolau Nasoni Gallery, Rua do Rosário, Porto. Admission to the exhibition and participation in the roundtable discussion are free. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sublimis, Fiumani
Sometimes—though rarely—we are granted a glimpse of something much greater, far beyond ourselves. A fleeting shift in perspective that pulls us out of our daily lives, almost out of our own bodies, beyond the familiar, where we encounter an immensity too vast to be contained or grasped. An experience of the sublime: simultaneously beautiful and disorienting. In those moments, our sense of self and of scale is subverted. We are reminded of our smallness and fragility, even if that reminder inspires more humility than fear. It loosens the boundaries of the self and opens us up to a deeper sense of connection: with the world, with others, with the vastness that surrounds us.
The Latin word *sublimis* evokes that which is elevated, exalted, transcendent. It is that which transcends a threshold, which goes beyond. The sublime cannot be produced or commanded, only invited; it cannot be translated, only suggested.
Ironically, it is in exploring the sublime—the vast, the grandiose, that which lies beyond—that Fiumani’s work finds its greatest restraint. The abundance of references, motifs, and color is increasingly framed within larger forms. Images and symbols nest within one another, forming layers of meaning that contain, rather than eliminate, their associative excess. The vase, a symbolic vessel of memories and stories, contains without completely enclosing: a container is also defined by its capacity to receive, and by its openness.
This shift toward restraint is literally embodied in a new series of welded metal works. The sheet of steel is not merely a surface to be worked on, but a structural component of the work itself. Welding demands intention, control, and sustained physical engagement—in contrast to the intuitive flow of associative painting. The works become exercises in channeling impulse into intention: giving form to energy.
Perhaps this is also what it means to draw near to the sublime. Encountering something that lies beyond us requires openness and sensitivity—a willingness to let ourselves be moved. But openness without structure becomes formless. To invite the immensity, we need the capacity to receive and contain—even if only for a few brief moments—that which we can never fully grasp.
L'Héritage - José de Guimarães: Group Exhibition + Book Launch
Starting May 16 at 4:00 p.m., the Nicolau Nasoni Gallery will present, at its location at Rua do Rosário 100 in Porto, the group exhibition + Launch of L’Héritage, which will also feature the unveiling of a silkscreen print by artist José de Guimarães.
Centered on the concept of artistic heritage, the exhibition brings together various works and artistic trajectories in a dialogue about continuity, influence, and permanence in contemporary art. Across generations, artistic languages, and materials, references intersect, revealing how artistic creation is also built upon memory, transmission, and transformation.
With José de Guimarães playing a central role, *L’Héritage* spotlights one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Portuguese art. Over the course of decades, the artist has developed a deeply unique visual language, characterized by the relationship between symbol, color, writing, and cultural identity. His work, influenced by African and Eastern references, has created a universe of its own that transcends geographical boundaries.
In this presentation, José de Guimarães’s presence reinforces precisely the idea of legacy as the ability to influence new interpretations, new gestures, and new ways of thinking about contemporary art.
The program also includes works by Pedro Cabrita Reis and the launch of a book by Joana Vasconcelos, in partnership with Urucum.
José de Guimarães
Acrylic on canvas
38 × 55 cm
, Signed
José de Guimarães
Sphinx, 1988
A One-of-a-Kind Work
Polychrome paper sculpture
142 × 74 × 12 cm
This work was exhibited at the Cordoaria Nacional and the Emanoel Araujo Afro-Brazil Museum in São Paulo, Brazil
José de Guimarães
Oceans Series
A One-of-a-Kind Work
Acrylic on handmade "marouflé" paper mounted on canvas
206 × 209 cm
Includes a certificate of authenticity
Launch of Serigrafia José de Guimarães
The Nicolau Nasoni Gallery presents…
The exclusive “Magic Snake” silkscreen print by artist José de Guimarães
The Nicolau Nasoni Gallery is pleased to present “Serpente Mágica, ” a new, exclusive silkscreen print by José de Guimarães, available starting May 16, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
A leading figure in Portuguese contemporary art, José de Guimarães has developed over the decades a unique, vibrant, symbolic, and instantly recognizable visual language. In “Serpente Mágica,” the artist once again explores the imagery, color, and symbols that define his artistic universe, in a limited edition.
Available in limited quantities, this silkscreen print can be purchased at the gallery and online.
Flamma Vitae
On March 21, the Nicolau Nasoni Gallery will open a new exhibition space at Rua do Rosário 100, strengthening its presence in the city’s art scene and continuing its work to promote contemporary Portuguese artists.
The opening will be marked by the exhibition *Flamma Vitae*, which brings together works by Rafael Oliveira, Daniel Gamelas, and José Cunha. The exhibition presents a collection of works that span painting and sculpture, fostering an encounter between different visual languages. Through material, gesture, and form, the works explore distinct ways of constructing the image and the artistic object, while also engaging the sensory dimension of the aesthetic experience. The intensity of the image and the material invites visitors to engage more closely with the work, where gaze, perception, and emotion intersect in the construction of meaning.
With this opening, the gallery reinforces the cultural vitality of Rua do Rosário, located in the so-called Quarteirão das Artes—one of the city’s main hubs for contemporary art and a prime venue for artists, galleries, collectors, and the public to come together.
The opening will take place on March 21, at 4:00 p.m., at Rua do Rosário 100, in Porto.
Rafael Oliveira
It Felt Like Home, 2025
Daniel Gamelas
Call of the Ancient Gods, 2024
José Cunha
Untitled, 2026
Dialogues and Impressions: Exhibition + Book Launch
*Dialogues and Impressions* marks the debut of Joana Vasconcelos’s seventeenth sketchbook, a new chapter in her ongoing archive of sketches, reflections, and experiments. This launch is presented in conjunction with a group exhibition featuring works by Pedro Cabrita Reis, Luiz Zerbini, Claude Viallat, José Eduardo Agualusa, Roberto Magalhães, Rafael Oliveira, and Daniel Gamelas, creating a rich dialogue among unique artistic trajectories.
Joana Vasconcelos
The Notebooks of My Life, 2021–2025
To mark the artist’s 50th birthday, these notebooks have given rise to a special project: a completely handcrafted edition that offers the public its first glimpse into this intimate archive of her creative process. Each notebook is transformed into a large-format artist’s book, accompanied by an original work—a unique, signed tile panel measuring 34 × 44 cm—presented in a 38 × 47 × 8 cm slipcase lined with materials as diverse as cork, mirror, fabric, and paper.
This edition, produced in Lisbon from 2021 to 2022, has a very limited print run: 9 copies plus 2 artist’s proofs per book, all signed and numbered.
The books are printed using fine-art printing on Hahnemühle Bamboo and Rice Paper. Each copy also includes a text by Valter Hugo Mãe, written specifically in Portuguese for this edition.
Luiz Zerbini
My Impressions, 2016
A large-format artist’s book (79 × 56 cm), created over the course of two years. Each copy comes with a signed, one-of-a-kind monotype. The book features 9 original works, including linocuts and woodcuts, laser-cut pieces, hand-painted elements, and text by Leda Catunda on rice paper.
Claude Viallat
Something we hadn't anticipated
An artist’s book created in 2023, consisting of 24 linen pages painted by Claude Viallat and 16 poems by James Sacré. Each copy, presented in a natural bamboo box (60 × 75 cm), combines painting and poetry in a dialogue between color, material, and words. Limited edition of 15 copies and 5 hors commerce, under the editorial direction of Lucia Bertazzo and Sergio Correa de Sampaio.
In partnership with URUCUM