Paula Rego
Paula Rego: A Life of Artistic Expression
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Paula Rego's full name is Maria de Belém Luísa Joana Paula Regina Miguéis Rego. She is commonly known as Paula Rego.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on January 26, 1935, in Lisbon, Portugal, Paula Rego passed away on June 8, 2022, at the age of 87.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Paula Rego was a Portuguese-born British painter. She is widely regarded as one of the most important female artists of her generation.
Early Life
Rego grew up in a wealthy family in Lisbon. Her father, António Sérgio Miguéis, was a lawyer, while her mother, Maria de Lourdes Rego, came from a prominent business family. As a child, Paula was fascinated by art and spent hours drawing and painting. However, her parents discouraged her creative pursuits, viewing them as impractical for a woman.
Early Career
In 1952, Rego moved to London to pursue a career in dance. She enrolled in the Sadler's Wells School of Dance but soon became disillusioned with the strict discipline required. Instead, she turned to painting and began studying at the Byam Shaw School of Art. Her early work was influenced by Expressionism, but she eventually developed her unique style, which blended elements of Realism, Pop Art, and Fauvism.
Major Accomplishments
Paula Rego's artistic career spanned over six decades. She exhibited extensively in galleries around the world, including the Tate Britain, the Whitechapel Gallery, and the São Paulo Biennial. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Prémio Vida (1998) and the Praemium Imperiale (2012).
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Rego's most notable works include:
_The Three Judges_ (1988), a painting depicting three women in a courtroom setting.
_Oedipus_ (2003), a series of prints exploring the mythological theme of Oedipus Rex.
_Dom Casmurro_ (2010), a suite of etchings inspired by Machado de Assis's novel of the same name.Impact and Legacy
Paula Rego's impact on modern art is immeasurable. She has influenced generations of artists with her innovative style, which blended elements of Realism and Fauvism. Her work continues to inspire exhibitions, publications, and research projects around the world. The Paula Rego Museum in Cascais, Portugal, showcases a comprehensive collection of her works.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Paula Rego's artistic output has been widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
Pioneering Female Artist: As one of the few women to achieve prominence in the art world during her time, Rego paved the way for future generations of female artists.
Unique Style: Her innovative style, which blended elements of Realism and Fauvism, has been widely influential.
Thematic Depth: Her work explores themes that are both deeply personal and universally relevant, such as family dynamics, social justice, and the human condition.
In conclusion, Paula Rego was a trailblazing artist who left an indelible mark on modern art.
Quotes by Paula Rego
That is why my pictures don’t look like modern art. It’s some sort of timidity on my part I’m sure.
I’m not fashionable at all, and the fact that I manage to sell pictures without being fashionable is thanks to my gallery.
If you put frightening things into a picture, then they can’t harm you. In fact, you end becoming quite fond of them.
To find one’s way anywhere one has to find one’s door, just like Alice, you see. You take too much of one thing and you get too big, then you take too much of another and you get too small. You’ve got to find your own doorway into things...
Sketches always have more vitality than paintings because you’re finding things out through doing them.
Every change is a form of liberation. My mother used to say a change is always good even if it’s for the worse.
Every change is a form of liberation. My mother used to say a change is always good even if it's for the worse.
If you put frightening things into a picture, then they can't harm you. In fact, you end becoming quite fond of them.