The first public showing of Anthony Rudolf’s collection of Paula Rego’s work, which was given to him as her model and companion for the last twenty-six years of her life.
Born in Lisbon, Portugal, Paula Rego was one of the most significant figurative artists of her generation. Her deeply narrative and often provocative works draw on childhood memories, fairy tales, feminist themes, and political events, reflecting her Portuguese roots and the broader human condition.
Rego studied at London’s Slade School of Fine Art and gained recognition for her surreal, collage-based works that critiqued Portugal’s Fascist regime. Throughout her career, she embraced a variety of media, creating evocative series such as Untitled: The Abortion Pastels and Crivelli’s Garden.
She held residencies and retrospectives at prestigious institutions, including the National Gallery and Tate Britain, and was celebrated internationally. A pioneer of storytelling in visual art, Rego’s bold, emotive style continues to resonate, earning her a Damehood in 2010.
This exhibition offers a tribute to her remarkable legacy and cements her status as a modern master.
