Opening on Friday, October 16, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Presented by Armazém das Artes, “Territory: Frontiers in Public Art” is a major international exhibition and an 18-month cultural program , curated by Hyland Mather, that explores the evolving language of contemporary public art.

Bringing together ten internationally recognized artists who currently live and work in Portugal, the exhibition explores the evolving language of contemporary public art through muralism, painting, sculpture, installation, site-specific interventions, and socially engaged art.

Representing diverse cultural backgrounds and artistic traditions, each of the participating artists has established Portugal as the base for their contemporary practice. “Territory” celebrates this unique moment, positioning Portugal as an increasingly important hub for international artistic exchange, while also examining how artists continue to redefine the relationship between the artwork, architecture, landscape, and public life.

At its core, the exhibition “Territory” poses a simple question: what constitutes public art today? Although murals remain one of its most recognizable forms, contemporary public art has evolved into a much broader field of artistic practice. The exhibition embraces this broad definition, featuring artists whose work moves fluidly between the street, the gallery, the museum, and public spaces.

The inaugural exhibition features works by AKA Corleone, Bisco Smith, Catarina Leitão, Mando Marie, MOTS, Padure, Ricarod Romero, Rudolfo Quintas, The Lost Object, and Wasted Rita. Together, they represent an extraordinary showcase of contemporary practice, with each artist offering a distinct vision of public art while contributing to a broader debate on place, identity, participation, and the evolving cultural landscape.

Throughout the Armazém das Artes, visitors will encounter newly commissioned murals, large-scale installations, sculpture, painting, prints, works on paper, immersive environments, and site-specific interventions created especially for the exhibition. Rather than presenting artists in isolation, “Territory” fosters dialogue between artistic practices, revealing unexpected connections throughout the galleries and transforming the museum into a shared landscape of artistic exchange.

In addition to the exhibition itself, “Territory” unfolds as an 18-month cultural program that extends far beyond the museum’s walls. Public artworks, artist residencies, lectures, screenings, educational initiatives, community events, and satellite projects will continue to invigorate the Armazém das Artes and the surrounding area, establishing the institution as a permanent platform for contemporary public art and international cultural exchange.

A bilingual exhibition catalog will document the project through newly commissioned essays, artist profiles, photographs of the installations, and original texts, creating a lasting record of one of the most ambitious explorations of contemporary public art in Portugal.

Rather than defining public art through a single medium or methodology, “Territory” celebrates its diversity. It is an invitation to rethink the place art occupies, who it is intended for, and how artists continue to shape the cultural landscapes in which we live. By bringing together ten distinct artists who have made Portugal their home, “Territory” establishes Armazém das Artes as a meeting place for ideas, experimentation, and the future of public art.