Manuel Caldeira (b. 1979, PT) stands out in the Portuguese contemporary art scene for his exploration of the tension between painting and three-dimensionality, in a trajectory marked by experimentation and conceptual rigor.
Trained at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London and at Ar.Co. in Lisbon (2006), he furthered his artistic research through the Creativity and Artistic Creation Program of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. His work gained wider recognition in 2015 with nominations for the EDP New Artists Award and the Amadeo de Souza Cardoso Prize.
His practice is distinguished by an abstract approach and a reinterpretation of art history. In Horse & Heron(2014), he reimagined The Battle of San Romano by Paolo Uccello, stripping away its narrative to achieve a contemplative aesthetic. In recent years, he has expanded his artistic practice to sculpture and ceramics, as evidenced by his three exhibitions at Galeria Rui Freire – Fine Art: Break a Leg, focused on painting; Acapella, where he integrated painting and sculpture; and Orelha Quebrada, where he explores ceramics and works on paper.
His work has been exhibited in various venues, including Red as Scarlet White as Snow (Giefarte, 2019), Si Sol Flat (Ar.Co. de Xabregas, 2019), and Steam 2 (Rockaway Beach, New York). His pieces are part of significant institutional and private collections, such as Ar.Co., the Carmona e Costa Foundation, and CAC Málaga.