MESTRE JOSÉ RODRIGUES
Sculptor, drafter and engraver, José Joaquim Rodrigues was born in Luanda, Angola. After his father authorized him to study in Portugal, he lived, firstly, in Bragança and, at the age of 14, he moved to Oporto to study Fine Arts. There, he concluded his Degree in Sculpting at Fine Arts School of Oporto, where he was also a professor.
José Rodrigues spends the majority of his time in Oporto, where he founded and chaired the Cooperativa de Ensino Artístico Árvore. He’s also connected to the Alto Minho, namely to Vila Nova de Cerveira, where he restored the São Paio Convent. He adopted it has his residence and work place, which contemplates a space dedicated to exhibitions. Nowadays, it functions as a cultural hub. He also helped to promote the Bienal Internacional de Cerveira.
Apart from sculpting, José Rodrigues does book illustrations for writers and poets such as Eugénio de Andrade, Jorge de Sena, Vasco Graça Moura e Albano Martins. He produces ceramics and medals (more than one hundred), and paints sceneries. In Spain, he collaborated with the Nacional Theatre Company of Galiza and with the Theatre Company of Madrid, and, in Portugal, with the University Theatre and the Experimented Theatre of Oporto, the Seiva Trupe, the Experimented Theatre of Cascais and the D. Maria II Theatre. He even collaborated with Oporto’s City Hall to paint the scenery of the Oporto City classification as a World Heritage Site ceremony.
Today he is considered one of the most renowned Portuguese artists. He is represented in several collections and institutions throughout the country and overseas since 1964, and has been granted with several awards throughout his career such as a decoration for Grande Oficial of the Ordem do Infante D. Henrique, in 1964, and the Soctip Award for «Artist of the Year», in 1990 .
Recently he bought and restored an old hat factory, a space he used as an atelier 20 years ago and that he has converted to the well-known Fundação Escultor José Rodrigues.
