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

Ten artists. Ten territories. Three cities. Eighteen months.

Presented by Armazém das Artes and curated by Hyland Mather, “Territory: Frontiers in Public Art” is an international exhibition and an 18-month cultural program that explores ten distinct frontiers in contemporary public art through the practices of ten internationally recognized artists who live or work in Portugal.

The program kicks off at Armazém das Artes in Alcobaça, featuring AKACORLEONE, Bisco Smith, Catarina Leitão, Mando Marie, MOTS, Padure, Ricardo Romero, Rudolfo Quintas, The Lost Object, and Wasted Rita.

His practice spans muralism, painting, sculpture, installation, light, language, assemblage, technology, and site-specific interventions.

“Armazém das Artes is the perfect place to kick off the Territory conversation. José Aurélio is a seminal figure in Portuguese public art from the second half of the 20th century, and by creating this extraordinary space, he made an enormous contribution to contemporary art. The artists in Territory carry on this tradition of public art in very different ways, but they all share a fundamental interest in how art functions in public space. What I want to ask—and seek to answer through Territory—is a simple question: What are some of the frontiers that contemporary artists in Portugal are exploring today in public art?”

— Hyland Mather, Curator of Territory

TEN ARTISTS · TEN TERRITORIES

"Territory" does not seek to define contemporary public art through a single medium, movement, or methodology. Instead, the exhibition identifies ten distinct territories that emerge from the individual practices of the participating artists:

AKACORLEONE — LIGHT IN MOTION
Bisco Smith — THE WRITTEN MARK
Catarina Leitão — INVISIBLE ACCORDS
Mando Marie — ELUSIVE FEELING
MOTS — SHARED AUTHORSHIP
Padure — COMMUNICATING ACTION
Ricardo Romero — RECONSIDERATION
Rudolfo Quintas — COLLECTIVE PERCEPTION
The Lost Object — UNPREDICTABLE OUTCOME
Wasted Rita — UNSPOKEN TRUTH

These works explore themes ranging from light, language, and collective perception to collaboration, communication, emotional ambiguity, and the unpredictable forces involved in the creative process.

They are not intended to provide a comprehensive definition of contemporary public art, nor do they represent the only boundaries currently being explored. Instead, they present ten proposals—rooted in ten distinct practices—to explore some of the ways in which artists continue to engage with public space, public perception, and public influence.

INSIDE THE ARTS WAREHOUSE

At the inaugural exhibition in Alcobaça, these ideas take physical form.

The ten participating artists use the scale and architecture of the Armazém das Artes to create large-scale interventions throughout the building. Monumental walls, spacious galleries, floors, and the building’s distinctive arched windows become an integral part of the exhibition itself, showcasing new works that span mural art, painting, sculpture, installation, light, language, and technology.

These architectural interventions are complemented by a selection of works on an exhibition scale, including paintings, sculptures, prints, and works on paper, providing a broader view of the practices from which each artist’s “Territory” emerges.

Outside, the artists are coming together to create a large collaborative mural that stretches across the entire exterior facade of the Armazém das Artes.

The result is an exhibition that can be experienced throughout the entire building: from intimate works on paper and objects on display to monumental murals, large-scale sculptures, immersive environments, and site-specific installations.

THREE CITIES · 18 MONTHS

The exhibition at Armazém das Artes marks the start of a program that runs from October 2026 to March 2028.

Over the course of eighteen months, Territory will take place in Alcobaça, Óbidos, and Sines, featuring three exhibitions and three public mural projects—one in each host city.

After Alcobaça, “Territory” will continue at the NovaOgiva Gallery in Óbidos in the summer of 2027 and at the Sines Arts Center in the fall of 2027.

In addition to the exhibitions and public artworks, the program includes conversations with artists, digital content, educational activities, and a bilingual publication documenting the artists, the works, and the ideas developed throughout Territory.

TERRITORY: FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC ART

Armazém das Artes · Alcobaça
October 16, 2026 – March 21, 2028

NovaOgiva Gallery · Óbidos
Summer 2027

Sines Arts Center · Sines
Fall 2027

Armazém das Artes
Thursday–Sunday · 2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.
Admission €3 · Free admission on Thursdays