Farewell to Paula Rego, painter who was inspired by fairy tales

Paula Rego, one of Portugal’s most extraordinary and visionary painters, passed away this morning at the age of 87 at her home in London. Her art was influenced by fairy tales, Portuguese folk songs, and national literature, but also by British literature, as she had moved to the United Kingdom since 1951 for study, but her final move was in 1974 when following the Carnation Revolution the dictatorship of António Salazar toppled causing problems for private industrial management (the artist’s family owned a business).

She attended the Slade School of Fine Art, where she also met her future husband, Victor Willing. A visual artist, she became famous for her paintings, preferably in pastels, based on storybooks. Her art often dealt with the theme of feminism, intertwining with the popular themes of her native Portugal. She criticized the anti-abortion movement and took the side of poorer women; her battles for civil rights were also significant.

It was last year that the largest retrospective ever mounted on the artist, staged at London’s Tate Britain, spanned her entire career.

Paula Rego is among the featured artists at the 59th. Venice Art Biennale, i running until Nov. 27, 2022.

“A national loss,” said Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, as soon as news of the artist’s passing reached him.

© Henry Bourne. Courtesy of Saatchi Gallery, London © Paula Rego, 2016

Farewell to Paula Rego, painter who was inspired by fairy tales

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.