Bela Branquinho

Abstract artist living and working in Lisbon and Sintra.

I am mostly interested in painting as a way to convey sensations. The creative process is for me purely intuitive.
The blank canvas is slowly filled in, back and forth, as if it was the act of verbally telling a story. The work starts timidly and unsurely, invariably in shades of blue, grey, and green, and starts affirming itself as it goes forward. Sometimes halfway through the work transforms itself, following paths that were completely unexpected at the beginning of the creative process. And then one day the painting gains autonomy and declares itself finished. I look at it and feel like it doesn't belong to me anymore, that the journey has ended.

I have attended watercolour and abstract painting courses at an Arts School in Lisbon and at "Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes" in Lisbon.
I studied Law at the University Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium and at Law University of Lisbon, Portugal.

-2024
# Bankside Gallery (London) Royal Watercolor Society, Watercolor Competition
# (a)Cube Gallery (Sofia,Belgrado), 21x21 International Abstract Art Contest
# Museu de Arte Urbana (Oeiras, Portugal)

-2023
# Gouveia, Prémio Abel Manta de Pintura - 1st Painting Prize
# Lisbon, SNBA - Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes
# Palmela, Galeria da Biblioteca Municipal
# Espinho, 7ª Bienal International de Arte de Espinho

-2022
# Ponta Delgada, S. Miguel, Azores - solo exhibition at Centro de Cultura
# Lisbon, at MU.SA - solo exhibition at Museu das Artes de Sintra
# Lisbon, solo exhibition at Town Hall Gallery

- 2021
# Sofia, Bulgaria , (a)Cube Gallery , "21x21 Abstract"
# Porto, Portugal, "Foz'Arte" group exhibition

- 2020
#Lisbon, Portugal - solo exhibition at "Espaço Cultural das Mercês" (Príncipe Real) Lisbon
#Mértola, Portugal - Bienal Mertolarte, where I was awarded a 2nd prize;

- 2019
# Montreal, Canada at Gallery Gora
# Lisbon, solo exhibition "Memórias dos Dias / Day's Memories" at Centro de Documentação da CML in Campo Grande
# Gouveia, finalist for "Prémio Abel Manta Exhibition"
# Alhos Vedros, "IX Bienal de Pintura de Pequeno Formato" where I was awarded a honorable mention.

- 2018
#Lisbon, Solo exhibition " Lin...