Celebrating 15!

The Raw Charm of the North in "The Choosen Ones" by Graça Morais

Drawing and Painting - 1994

The Chosen Ones, series of 12 (1994) by Graça MoraisGraça Morais Contemporary Art Centre

Graça Morais

Born in 1948 in Freixiel, a village in the municipality of Vila Flor, in Trás-os-Montes (northeastern Portugal), Graça Morais is celebrated for her expressive, often symbolic works rooted in rural traditions and human experience.

The Chosen Ones, series of 12 (1994) by Graça MoraisGraça Morais Contemporary Art Centre

Her paintings frequently explore themes of memory, identity, and the struggles of women, blending earthy tones with a raw, emotional intensity. She is considered one of Portugal’s most important living artists, with exhibitions held worldwide.

The Chosen Ones, series of 12 (1994) by Graça MoraisGraça Morais Contemporary Art Centre

Her style is deeply expressive and symbolic, rooted in the landscapes, traditions, and people of Trás-os-Montes.

Her works often feature earthy tones, raw brushstrokes, and simplified yet powerful human forms, especially women, who become symbols of endurance, memory, and identity.

She draws inspiration from rural rituals and the cycles of nature, blending them with contemporary concerns such as exile, cultural transformation, and the fragility of life.

The Chosen Ones, series of 12 (1994) by Graça MoraisGraça Morais Contemporary Art Centre

“The Chosen Ones” (1994)

These are a set of 12 paintings with which Graça Morais pays homage to the women of the rural world.

The Chosen Ones, series of 12 (1994) by Graça MoraisGraça Morais Contemporary Art Centre

These are paintings of real women with whom the artist feels close affinity or who directly influenced her, especially those that recall memories of her past in Trás-os-Montes or her brief stay in Cape Verde.

The Chosen Ones, series of 12 (1994) by Graça MoraisGraça Morais Contemporary Art Centre

With well-defined features on the face, these women represent the natural aging process, which resembles the natural cycle of nature's evolution

The Chosen Ones, series of 12 (1994) by Graça MoraisGraça Morais Contemporary Art Centre

The artist has kept this work private throughout her career and is now part of the collection of the Graça Morais Contemporary Art Center.

Explore more works of Graça Morais in Graça Morais Contemporary Art Centre in Bragança with seven rooms specifically dedicated to her art.

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Graça Morais Contemporary Art Center and Bragança Municipality

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