New Acquisitions, Renowned Artists (2023)

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 and 2023); New Acquisitions: mid-career artists (2022 and 2023); Caixa Contest for Young Artists (2022 and 2023).

The works acquired in 2023 continued to consolidate the sub-collections of works by renowned artists that were already represented in the CGD Collection. This allowed us to develop our knowledge of the oeuvre constructed by these artists throughout their careers: Ana Jotta (Lisbon, Portugal, 1946), Fernando Calhau (Lisbon, Portugal, 1948 – 2002), Joana Vasconcelos (Paris, France, 1971) and João Penalva (Lisbon, Portugal, 1949). 

Created by the artist Joana Vasconcelos for her solo exhibition in 2012 at the Palace of Versailles, to be shown specifically in the bedroom of King Louis XVI's wife Marie Antoinette, the work Perruque is a citation of the curious wigs and hairstyles for which the Queen-Consort was also known. This sculpture was produced with the collaboration of the Ricardo Espírito Santo Foundation (FRESS), and involved the Design, Sawmill, Carpentry, Carving, Smelting, Metalwork, Chiselling, Inlays and Polishing and Finishes teams. 

The acquisition of a work by artist José Conduto (Beja, Portugal, 1951 - Lisbon, Portugal, 1980) proved to be a unique opportunity to include in the CGD Collection an avant-garde artist from the 1970s who, having died at the young age of 29, did not achieve the visibility he deserved and which would be expected from the few exhibitions in which he had participated.