Paula Rego (1935–2022)

Paula Rego’s work constructs complex narratives through her visual language; the artist has developed a universe of her own, where everyday life, imagination, and memory intersect. Her compositions address issues of identity, power, gender, and human relationships, often drawing on ambiguity, allegory, and the depiction of situations of psychological tension.

Available Works

Artistic Language

Paula Rego’s artistic language is characterized by the figurative depiction of characters and situations that defy immediate interpretation. Folk tales, literature, mythology, and autobiographical references serve as starting points for compositions in which the real and the imaginary coexist. Female figures often play a central role, appearing in situations that challenge social conventions, power dynamics, and traditional models of representation.

Throughout her career, the artist has worked with various media and techniques, including painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, and pastel. Her graphic work, consisting of series of prints and lithographs, constitutes an important aspect of her oeuvre, in which she has developed some of her most recognizable visual narratives.

At the Nicolau Nasoni Gallery, you’ll find works and prints by Paula Rego, included in a selection of contemporary art available for purchase.

Biography

Paula Rego (1935–2022) was born in Lisbon and studied painting at the Slade School of Fine Art in London from 1952 to 1956. After a period during which she divided her time between Portugal and the United Kingdom, she settled permanently in London in 1976, where she spent much of her career. In 1990, she became the first artist-in-residence at the National Gallery in London, cementing her international reputation.

Throughout her career, she exhibited her work at major international institutions and received numerous honors, including the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010. In 2009, the Paula Rego House of Stories opened in Cascais, a museum dedicated to her work. She died in London in 2022, leaving a fundamental legacy for Portuguese and international art.

Representation in Collections and Museums

  • Tate, London

  • National Gallery, London

  • National Portrait Gallery, London

  • British Museum, London

  • Arts Council Collection, London

  • Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, U.S.

  • Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon

  • Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art, Porto

  • Museum of the Presidency of the Republic, Lisbon

  • Berardo Collection Museum, Lisbon

  • Paula Rego House of Stories, Cascais

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

  • Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York

  • The Morgan Library & Museum, New York

  • Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Nicolau Nasoni Gallery offers a selection of works by Paula Rego for sale, including prints and editions of graphic works. You can view the available works directly on our website or contact the gallery for additional information about each piece.

  • The selection at the Nicolau Nasoni Gallery consists primarily of graphic works by Paula Rego, including lithographs, etchings, and ink washes. Each work has its own characteristics—such as technique, dimensions, and edition number—which can be found on its respective product page.

  • The price of a work by Paula Rego depends on several factors, including the technique used, the dimensions, the date of creation, the edition size, and market availability. At the Nicolau Nasoni Gallery, each work’s price is listed on its product page. For information about specific pieces, please contact the gallery directly.

  • If you have any questions about the characteristics, price, or purchase of a work of art, please contact the Nicolau Nasoni Gallery via the contact form, by email, or by phone. Our team is available to provide information and assist you throughout the purchase process.