New Acquisitions: Currently Active Artists (2024)

Spanning the period from 1983 to the present day, Stories of the Collection summarises key moments in the formation of the Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) Collection. Across distinct points and through the presentation of its most important acquisitions, we follow the desires, tastes, policies and circumstances of each specific moment of the collection’s development: The Decorative Collection (1983-89); The Art Collection (1990-97); Diversification (2000-04); Photographs (1991 and 2004); Precision (2004-08 and 2014); Prints (2007); Donations and Bequests (1967-2021); Resuming Acquisitions (2020-21); New Acquisitions: renowned artists (2022), (2023) and historical artists (2024); New Acquisitions: mid-career artists (2022), (2023) and currently active artists (2024); Caixa Contest for Young Artists (2022), (2023) and (2024).

In 2024 we were able to prioritise the acquisition of works by artists who have had or are scheduled to have exhibitions at Culturgest: Alexandre Estrela (Lisbon, Portugal, 1971); Belén Uriel (Madrid, Spain, 1974); Júlia Ventura (Lisbon, Portugal, 1952); and Sara Graça (Lisbon, Portugal, 1993). As part of this process, both artists – Alexandre Estrela and Júlia Ventura – donated additional works to the Collection, thus expanding their representation.

As part of the recent exhibitions at Culturgest Lisboa by Júlia Ventura – “1975-1983” (18.05 – 29.09.2024) – and Alexandre Estrela – “Nature Bores the Monster” (12.10.2024 – 02.02.2025), the former donated three of the photographs that were part of the exhibition – (TPA), (FLPB #8) and (FLPB #6) –, and the latter produced a print from the aluminium screen of the work purchased by the CGD Collection, Tape Worm (2024).

João Penalva, who will be holding an exhibition at Culturgest Lisbon in 2026, has generously donated his work Pavlina and Dr. Erlenmeyer (2010). Through an installation of a theatre foyer, this artist recalls a panoply of objects and images that tell about the relationship between different instances, culminating in a sensory and intellectual experience.