Leonel Dos Santos

Leonel dos Santos was born in Mozambique on 26 April 1964.
His childhood was spent in his paternal house near Cidade da Beira, in Tica, where he was surrounded by the exuberance of Africa´s nature. From an early age, he demonstrated skills in arts. However, the political and historical situation of the 1970s, led him to Portugal, where his life suffered radical changes that deeply marked him.
Having experienced the strictness of military life, Leonel dos Santos returned to art by taking various courses in Portugal, as well as abroad, but ended up working in a variety of different professions.
In 2003, Leonel dos Santos embarked on a new adventure:
Life is his art and art is his life!

My childhood was profoundly affected by historical events, but also by unforgettable experiences.
My creative process as an artist is always intense, even painful, as a result of a lifetime of experience. Anxiety is always present; waiting is suffering. There is no ‘time for inspiration’. I am passionate about the materials I use, the colours, smells and textures that constantly take me back to the places I have been. Ideas and solutions flood out like an unstoppable wave, as basic as the need to breathe. For me, a block of marble or a blank ca...

Leonel dos Santos was born in Mozambique on 26th April 1964.

• Course in “Arts of Fire”, at António Arroio´s School of Art, Lisbon/Portugal
• Course in Imagery, at António Arroio´s School of Art, Lisbon/Portugal

 The sculptor has work in the permanent collection of the Museu Michel Giacometti, Setúbal/Portugal
 since 2005 he has been permanently represented at the African Contemporary Art Gallery supported by the Fundação Gulbenkian, Lisbon/Portugal
 the work of Leonel dos Santos can be found in various private collections in England, Germany, the USA, Austria and Portugal.

2019
80. Exposición Internacional Valdepeñas/ Spain
2018
painting and sculpture exhibition at the Galeria Baag, Lisbon/ Portugal
2017
sculpture exhibition at Galerie Sonia Monti – Paris/ France
Carrousel du Louvre – Paris/ France
Artexpo – New York/ USA
2016
VERA – world fine art festival - wwb fundation, Moscovo; sculpture award – Cordoaria Nacional, Lisbon/Portugal
2015
VERA – world fine art festival - wwb fundation, Moscovo; award installation – Cordoaria Nacional, Lisbon/ Portugal
2014
group exhibition of painting/ sculpture; Expression Gallery Project; Setúbal/Portugal
group exhibition of painting/ sculpture; AP – Arte Portuguesa; Lisbon/ Portugal
2013
painting and sculpture exhibition at the Galeria São Francisco; Lisbon/ Portugal
painting and sculpture exhibition at the LXFactory; Lisbon/ Portugal
2012
painting and sculpture exhibition at Galeria São Francisco; Lisbon/ Portugal
sculpture exhibition at the contest “Arte Laguna”, Arsenal de Veneza, Italy
“Kunst” - painting and sculpture exhibition at the LXFactory in Lisbon/ Portugal
participated in the Prémio Internacional Ciudad de Badajoz/ Spain; sculpture
2011
contributed to the book “Paradigmas da Arte Contemporânea”(+name of editor/publisher)
...