PAULO ARRAIANO
b. Portugal, 1977
Based in Lisbon, Portugal
EDUCATION
Ar.Co - Visual Art Center, Lisbon, Portugal
ISCEM, Lisbon, Portugal
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Board of Trustees KORP Foundation
Co-Founder Of Re_act Contemporary
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PAST
Co-Founder Of WATA Publishing
Co-Founder Of No.Stereo
Director Visual and Digital Arts course at Cascais School Of Art and Design
Paulo Arraiano (b. 1977, Portugal) holds a degree in Communication from ISCEM (Lisbon) and studied Visual Arts at Ar.Co – Arts Center (Lisbon). He currently works as a visual artist and is part of Korp Foundation Board of Trustees and the co-founder of Re_act Contemporary, an art laboratory and residency program based in the Azores Islands. Additionally, he serves as the Course Director for New Media in Contemporary Arts at the Cascais School of Arts and Design.
Paulo Arraiano’s research explores the concept of visual seismography, analyzing shifts in perception and form in response to emerging natural, social, and cultural paradigms. His practice engages the tension between matter and antimatter, body and landscape, technology and nature, tracing the invisible forces that shape the biosphere and human experience. Through geographical acupuncture, Paulo Arraiano activates specific territories and sites as sensitive membranes where natural and human diasporas converge, creating spatial and energetic cartographies that question established narratives of place and belonging. His work often unfolds through the lens of ritual, ancestral memory, and myth, understood not as remnants of the past but as living epistemologies that challenge Western, colonial systems of thought. By reactivating symbolic gestures and cosmological narratives from multiple diasporic and ecological contexts, his installations, performances, and time-based works propose a decolonial re-reading of the Anthropocene, where the sensorial, the spiritual, and the technological coexist as instruments of critical awareness and transformation.
Paulo Arraiano has participated in several exhibitions, both solo and collective including Uma Lulik_ [Lisbon]; Leal Rios Foundation [Lisbon], La Casa Encendida [Madrid]; MAAT Museum [Lisbon]; Berardo Museum [Lisbon]; Lagos Cultural Center [Lagos]; Centro Páraga, Murcia; Centre d’Art Contemporain Passerelle [Brest]; Vellum/LA, [Los Angeles]; Wilhelm Hack Museum [Ludwigshafen]; Dimora Artica [Milan]; Candy Shake Gallery, [Milan]; Gr-und [Berlin]; Airbag [Lisbon]; Porta33 [Madeira Island]; Hawaii-Lisbon [Lisbon]; Hangar [Lisbon]; Balcony [Lisbon]; Pivô [S.Paulo]; Museu d'Història de Catalunya [Barcelona]; Art Rotterdam [Rotterdam]; Cidade das Artes Museum [Rio de Janeiro]; Forum Arte Braga [Braga]; MAH Museum [Azores]; Quartier General, Centre d’art Contemporain [La Chaux-de-Fonds]; Aeroplastics Contemporary [Brussels]; Petra Gut Contemporary [Zurich]; TAL Gallery [Rio de Janeiro]; ArtRio [Rio de Janeiro]; Pena Palace [Sintra]; Galeria Graphos [Rio De Janeiro]; Museu do Côa [V.N. Foz Côa; Hifa, Harare International Festival Of Art [Zimbabwe]; Câmara Municipal do Porto [Porto]; Museé d’Art Moderne [Luxembourg], Miami Basel [Miami]; National Building Museum [Washington DC]; P28 [Lisbon] among others. Paulo Arraiano has also participated in several artist residency programmes and festivals, such as Loop [Barcelona]; Hangar (Lisbon); Fuso Videoarte [Lisbon]; Walk & Talk [Azores]; Transforma [Torres Vedras]; LAC [Lagos] Dutch Design Week Loop [The Netherlands] among others.
He is represented in both public and private collections such as Leal Rios Foundation; Centro de Arte Oliva [Portugal]; CAC Málaga Museum, [Spain]; Luciano Benetton Collection [Italy]; Sovereign Foundation, [Lisbon / Hong Kong]; Quartier-General Arts Center [Switzerland]; Museu de Angra do Heroísmo [Azores]; Sztuki Zewnetrznej Foundation [Poland]; Travessa da Ermida [Portugal]; Pestana Group [Portugal]; MARCC [Portugal]; Fundação D. Luís / Museum Quarter [Portugal] and several private collections.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 ́Unless the water is safer than the land ́, curated by Belén Vera Raya, Centro Páraga, Murcia
2026 ́Amphibian, Dialogue in Fuidity ́, curated by Gioia Di Girolamo, Spazio Iris, Pescara
2025 ́Unless the water is safer than the land [Lagos to Lagos] w/ Yagazie Emezi ́, curated by Lynhan Balatbat, Lagos Cultural Center, Lagos
2023 ́Unless the water is safer than the land ́, Forum Arte Braga, Braga
2023 ́Biophilia [soft and tender extitntion series] ́, curated by Aurélien Le Genissel, Uma Luklik_, Lisbon
2023 ́Arco Lisboa Solo Booth ́, with Uma Luklik_, Lisbon
2023 ́TheDeep ́ Morais Leitão Collection, Lisbon
2021 ´Olokun´, Uma Luklik_, Lisbon
2020 ´Inhale, Exhale (Self Breathing Kit)´,Travessa da Ermida, Lisbon
2019 ´Sensorial Divinities´, Dimora Artica, Milan, Italy
2018 ´Art Rotterdam´, solo booth with Hawaii-Lisbon, Rotterdam, Holland
2017 ´As always, A Matter Of Perspective´, Hawaii-Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
2016 ´While Satellites Dance´, TAL Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2015 ´Fold/Fault´, Forty/Forty, Warsaw, Poland
2014 ´Magma´, (Sandro Resende P/28), Cidadela Art District, Cascais, Portugal
2013 ´Emotional Landscapes´, Arte Institute
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 ́The Sovereign Art Prize ́, Sociedade das Belas Artes, Lisbon
2024 ́Infinite Serpent ́, curated by ana Rito, BF24 Bienalle, V.F. Xira
2023 ́Espanto ́, Centro Arte Oliva, Norlinda e José Lima Collection, Porto
2023 “A certain instance of verrition ́, Leal Rios Foundation, Lisbon
2023 ́Blind Taste ́, Arbag Lisboa, Lisbon
2023 ́With Love to Palestine ́,
2023 ́Arco Madrid, with Uma Luklik_, Madrid
2023 ́An Octopus Named If ́, Foundation 38CC, Delft NL
2022 ́Storm Hunters ́, Curated by Alice Bonnot, Centre d’Art Contemporain Passerelle, Brest
2022 ́Becoming An Island ́, curated by Aina Pomar, La Casa Encendida, Madrid
2022 ´Storm Hunters´, Curated by Alice Bonnot, Centre d’Art Contemporain Passerelle, Brest
2022 ´Becoming An Island´, Curated by Aina Pomar, La Casa Encendida, Madrid
2022 ´Visual Natures´, MAAT Museum, Lisbon
2022 ´The Sovereign Art Prize´, Palácio das Artes, Porto
2022 ´Garden Of Gods´, Curated by Ultrastudio, Vellum/LA, Los Angeles California
2022 ´Storm Hunters´, Curated by Alice Bonnot, Porta33, Madeira Island
2021 ´The Garden´, Candy Snake Gallery, Milanx§
2021 ´Thinking like an Octopus, Wilhelm Hack Museum, Curated by Julia Katharina Thiemann, Ludwigshafen
2021 ´(Non)Depleted´, Gr-und, Curated By Nina Blume, Berlin
2021 ´The Garden Of Digital Delights´, Curated By Marica Demora / Domenico Fallacara, Centre Intermondes, La Rochelle
2021 ´ThEnd´, Curated by Maria Abramenko, London / Online
2021 ´Bio Operational Transmission´, Harddiskmuseum, Curated by Solimán Lópes, Online
2020 ´ProjectMAP´, Museu Colecção Berardo, Lisbon
2020 ´VerDe´, Estufa Fria, Curated By Inês Valle, Lisboa
2020 ´Altar´, Mosteiro de Tibaes, Curated By Inês Valle, Braga
2020 ´(Non)Depleted, Dutch Design week, Online / Netherlands
2020 ´ThEnd´, Curated by Maria Abramenko, London / Online
2020 ´Digital Touch´, Curated by Carlos Pinto and Georgia Perkins, Online
2020 ´At the bottom of the sea´, Grinzig, Curated by yyyymmdd, Wien
2020 ´Through Windows´, Uma Lulik_, Curated by Miguel Mesquita, Lisbon
2020 ´Deflatable Aesthetics´, Hawaii-Lisbon At Balcony, Lisbon
2020 ´SD´, MentalSpace, Curated By Roman Zheleznyak, Boshum NL / Online
2020 ´StrangeTime´, ArtLaboratoty, Curated By Stepan Ryabchenko, Online
2020 ´Space´,Harddiskmuseum, Online
2019 ´Untitled´, Hangar, Lisbon
2019 ‘The Bee Who Forgot The Honey‘, Museu d'Història de Catalunya, Curated By Aurélien Le Genissel, Barcelona
2019 ‘Remote‘, 55SP, S-Paulo / Lisbon
2019 ‘Active Synthesis’, Forum Arte Braga (Curated by Duarte Sequeira And Guilherme Braga da Cruz), Braga, Portugal
2019 ‘Towards The Last Unicorn´, 55SP, S.Paulo, Brazil
2018 ´Secret Cabinet´, Dimora Artica, Milan, Italy
2018 Pivô, São Paulo, Brazil
2018 ´The Wrong New Digital Art Biennale´, Cidade das Artes Museum, RJ, Brazil
2017 ´Matter / Non_Matter´, MAH Museum, Terceira Island, Azores
2017 ´At Home´, Quartier General - Centre d'art Contemporain, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
2017 ´AbstractXed#1´, Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels, Belgium
2017 Petra Gut Contemporary, Zurich, Switzerland
2017 ´Well It's Just An Ocean Between´, TAL Gallery / Jacaranda, Lisbon, Portugal
2017 ´Swipe, Baby Swipe´, TAL Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2017 ´Song.no1´, no.stereo contemporary, Cascais, Portugal
2016 ´ArtRio´, with TAL Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2016 ´While Satellites Dance´, TAL Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2016 ´Quanto tempo falta?´, Câmara Municipal do Porto, Oporto, Portugal.
2016 ´Periplos´, (Curated By Fernando Frances), CAC Málaga Museum, Málaga, Spain
2016 ´Down To Earth´, (Curated By Kwaku Boateng), The Dot Project Gallery, London, Uk
2015 ´1/81,´ Fig Bilbao, Bilbao, Spain
2015 ´1/81´, Coa Museum, Vila Nova de Foz Côa, Portugal
2015 ´(De)Nature´, (Curated By Pauline Foessel), Underdogs at Comporta, Portugal
2015 ´Atemporal´, (Curated By Antonio Bokel), Galeria Graphos, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2014 ´Soma´, (Curated By Pauline Foessel), Underdogs Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2014 ´[2]/[3]´ (Sandro Resende P/28), Cidadela Art District, Cascais, Portugal
2014 ´Cherry Blast´, National Building Museum, Washington DC, USA
2013 ´Re:Function´, Angra do Heroísmo Museum, Terceira Island, Azores
2013 ´Montra´, (Sandro Resende P/28), Alfragide, Portugal
2012 ´Influx´, Influx Contemporary Art, Lisbon, Portugal
2009 ´Scope Miami´ / ArtBasel, Miami, USA
2009 ´Are You Having a Crisis´, (Sandro Resende P/28), P28, Lisbon, Portugal
2009 ´Encounters´, Yron Gallery, Lisbon, Portugal
2008 ´LaGa´, Museé d’Art Moderne, Luxembourg
COLLECTIONS
Leal Rios Foundation, Portugal
Centro de Arte Oliva, Portugal
CAC Málaga Museum, Málaga, Spain
Luciano Benneton Collection, Italy
Quartier-General Arts Center, Switzerland
Travessa da Ermida, Lisbon
Angra do Heroismo Museum, Azores
Fundação D. Luís, Museum Quarter, Portugal
MARCC Museum, Portugal
Sztuki Zewnetrznej Fundation, Poland
Pestana Group, Cidadela de Cascais, Portugal
SITE SPECIFIC
2020 ´VerDe´, Estufa Fria, Curated By Inês Valle, Lisboa
2020 ´Altar´, Mosteiro de Tibaes, Curated By Inês Valle, Braga
2016 ´Point Of View´, Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal
2015 ´Artemar 2015´, (Curated By Fundação Dom Luís I), Cascais Portugal
2014 ´One Night Stand´, (Sandro Resende P/28), Palácio do Freixo, Porto, Portugal
2011 ´(In)Transition´, 2.35:1 Gallery/Berns, Stocholm
2011 ´Uterus´, Lydmar, Stockholm, Sweden
2010 ´Vertigo´, (Sandro Resende P/28), Lisbon, Portugal
ART FESTIVALS AND RESIDENCES
2019 ´Untitled´, Hangar, Lisbon
2019 ´The Possibility Of Forever´, Is This It, Online
2014 ´Hifa . Harare International Festival Of Arts, Zimbabwe
2013 ´Walk & Talk Art Festival´, São Miguel Island, Azores
2011 ´Artur (International Residency Programme)´, Lagos, Portugal
2008 ´Eurocultured´, Manchester, Uk
2007 ´Wasted Youth´, Fused, Birmingham, Uk
BOOKS AND CATALOGUES
Becoming and Island, La Casa Encendida Catalogue
Thinking Like an Octopus, Wilhelm Hack Museum Catalogue
In/Situ Catalogue, Lisbon Green Capital
Emerge Green Edition, PLMJ Foundation
Travessa da Ermida Catalogue
Art Is (Vol1), Scandale Project
Re_act Contemporary Catalogue
Art Rotterdam Catalogue
ArtRio 2016 Catalogue
1/81, Coa Museum Catalogue
Periplos, Luciano Benetton Collection
In Between, Auf Blank
Atemporal, Exhibition Catalogue
Gestalten Books
NLFBook/MusaBook
Index Books
Victionary Books
And Others.
ARTICLES AND MEDIA
Artland
Art Research Map
Daily Collector
No.stereo Contemporary
Scandale Project
Art-Verge
Don’t Post Me Magazine
JuneJoonJaxx
BlouinArtInfo
Wearenapolean
Avant Arte
Arte Institute
Daily Mail
The Wrong Digital Biennale
Digit Magazine
Libération
The Guardian
The Times
USAToday
Magnetica
P3
Público
Diario de Notícias
Revista Visão
DasArtes Magazine
Fused Magazine
Dif Magazine
Idea Magazine Taiwan
Xfuns.Magazine
And others.