Art Madrid'24 – Francisco Mendes

Francisco Mendes

Coimbra (Portugal), 1979

The chromatic drawings and paintings of Portuguese artist Francisco Mendes Moreira often depict abstract faces and figures as he explores universal themes relating to the human experience. Typically engaging with repurposed surfaces ranging from old scraps of fabric and cardboard to blocks of wood, Moreira uses oil paint or oil pastel to create his complex portraits. Employing different methods including collage and charcoal, Moreira's works are a unique blending of figuration and abstraction, as seen in And one day old man winter ... (2019), an oil pastel on found card paper bearing a white figure resembling a snow- covered tree. The artist is also recognized for his renderings of sprawling landscapes featuring trees and mountains; these elements are usually depicted in unnatural hues and highlight the otherworldly feeling the work evokes. Work from Moreira’s extensive oeuvre has been exhibited throughout Europe and North America.