Rui Macedo: Contemporary Painting and Site-Specific Art Installations

Rui Macedo is a visual artist living and working in Lisbon, Portugal. Born in Evora in 1975, his academic background is extensive, culminating in a PhD in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon (FBAUL) in 2017. Macedo is primarily known for his meticulous investigation into the medium of painting and its physical and conceptual boundaries. His practice often involves creating site-specific installations that challenge the viewer’s perception of architectural and institutional spaces. Throughout his career, Rui Macedo has developed a unique aesthetic that engages with art history, the concept of mimesis, and the role of the museum. His solo exhibitions are frequent and have been hosted by prestigious institutions internationally, including the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) in Lisbon, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Niteri in Brazil, and the MEIAC in Spain. Notable projects such as 'Apparatus', 'Quodlibet', and 'Sfumato' demonstrate his ability to weave complex narratives through pictorial representation. The works of Rui Macedo are held in significant public and private collections, such as the Portuguese State Collection, Culturgest, and the IVAM in Spain. His artistic research often focuses on 'institutional critique', using the placement and scale of his paintings to subvert traditional display methods. By blurring the lines between the artwork and its surrounding environment, Rui Macedo invites a deeper reflection on the nature of the image and its historical context.EE