MEET
Paulo Amaral
Paulo Alexandre Amaro Peres do Amaral (b. 1969, Lisbon) is a self-taught Angolan artist whose work is a vibrant celebration of colour, memory, and African identity. Raised in Angola and currently based in Luanda, Amaral began his artistic journey in 1988, ignited by a deep fascination with the symbolic and emotional power of colour. He held his debut solo exhibition, Colours and Tones, in 2001, marking the beginning of a prolific artistic path.
With no formal art school training, Amaral cultivated his distinctive visual language through persistence, intuition, and a multidisciplinary life — working in architecture, military service, and as a jazz pianist. His artistic vocabulary is influenced by his studies at the Karl Marx-Makarenko Polytechnic in Luanda, his professional work at GEPAT (Office of Studies and Projects), and his years immersed in music, particularly as a pianist for the Economics Jazz Band (1988–1993). These experiences infuse his paintings with rhythm, structural balance, and an emotional register often likened to improvisational jazz.
Over the past two decades, Amaral has participated in more than 40 solo and group exhibitions, becoming a fixture in Angola’s contemporary art scene. His works have been showcased in landmark shows including:
Reciclarte Project (2020–2023, Luanda) – as both artist and curator
Carvoeiros and Guardians (2022, Luanda)
Camões Cultural Centre (2021, Luanda)
Olongombe Project (2016, national tour)
Roots (2014), Memories (2006), and Coreszitas (2007) – solo exhibitions in Luanda
In addition to his canvases, Amaral also contributed to heritage restoration projects, such as the restoration of religious sculptures at the Church of Jesus in Cidade Alta (2019).
Amaral's practice is deeply rooted in the emotional landscapes of Angola, capturing the interplay between personal memory and collective identity. His expressive use of colour and movement draws viewers into compositions that are at once meditative and vibrant. Whether painting the nuances of everyday life, abstract impressions of music, or metaphors for spiritual transformation, Amaral’s work invites reflection and reconnection.
Through colour and trace, Amaral has created a lifelong artistic legacy that celebrates the resilience of culture, the poetry of form, and the freedom of self-expression.
