BIOGRAPHY
Rodrigo Veloso is a Portuguese artist based in Brooklyn, New York. Holding a Master’s degree in Architecture from University of Lisbon (IST) his work emphasizes texture, primarily using oil pastel, and reflects his interest in diverse cultures, nature, and the human figure. His travels across different countries in South America, Africa, and moving to NYC combined with his personal journey significantly influence his art. After working as an architect at ARX Portugal Arquitectos in Lisbon, Rodrigo transitioned to focus on painting, drawing, illustration, and graphic design as part of Studio Ayer. Rodrigo has exhibited in Lisbon, New York, Paris, and Madrid.
CV
Education:
2013—2018, Bachelor’s and Master’s degreen in Architecture from University of Lisbon (IST);
2017—2018 Exchange program (Erasmus) Univerza v Ljubljani Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Past Exhibitions:
– 2024, May, Morning Dew, Forecast x Visionary Projects NYC, Brooklyn, New York;
– 2024, January, Ephemeral Threads, Gallery MC, Manhattan, New York;
– 2023, December, The Collective, The High Line Nine Galleries, New York;
– 2023, October, Vivid Vibrations, The Yard Gowanus, New York;
– 2023, August, At Summer’s End, 17 Frost Gallery Brooklyn, New York;
– 2023, July, Emergence, Visionary Art Collective (online);
– 2023, April, The Storms we feel inside, Triangle Loft Chelsea, New York;
– 2023, April, Emerging Artists 2023, Dodomu Gallery (online);
– 2023, March, Essence Brute, Van Gogh Gallery, Madrid;
– 2023, March, Instinctive Patterns, The Yard 5th Avenue, New York;
– 2023, January, International Art Fair, Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris;
– 2022, November, The Other Art Fair Brooklyn by Saatchi Art, New York;
– 2022, September, Distant/Memory by Visionary Projects NYC (online);
– 2022, March, Together/Somewhere by Visionary Projects NYC (online)
– 2022, January, Collective Exhibition at Patio nº2, Lisbon;
– 2021, July, Mercado PLA’ARTE Art Fair, Lisbon;
– 2021, May, À Margem, Corrente Arroios, Lisbon (Solo show);
– 2020, December, 12×12 exhibition at Mercado de Santa Clara, Lisbon;
– 2020, November, Amália – a contemporary look, Galeria António Prates, Lisbon;
– 2020, October, Welcometoart Lisbon Colective exhibition at Embaixada, Lisbon;
– 2020, April, 40 artists, 40 works, 40 ways to help, welcomeart Lisbon + Portuguese Red Cross;
– 2019, July, ARTTACO 2.0, RESVÉS Cowork, Lisbon;
– 2019, June, Cascais is our homeland, Forte de Santo António da Barra, Estoril;
– 2018, October, Chapter One, CCQ Belém, Lisbon (Solo show);
– 2017, Junho, Teatro e Habitação na Estrela, Reservatório da Mãe d’água, Lisbon.
Honors:
– 2024, Invited to speak at WIX’s “Screen to Screen” event in New York;
– 2023, Artist selected to be part of New Visionary magazine issue 8 in New York;
– 2023, Artist selected to be part of the international magazine House of Interiors;
– 2023, Artist selected for the online exhibition “Emerging Artists 2023” by Dodomu Gallery;
– 2021, Personal website distinguished by WordPress Semplice as a reference online portfolio;
– 2021, Publication in the newspaper Público P3 about the solo exhibition “À margem” in Lisbon;
– 2021, Interview for Revista Rua;
– 2020, Artist selected for the final round of the Amália Award by Galeria António Prates in Lisbon; 2020 – Fellow in the Art in Motion (AIM) program by Critical Techworks Portugal.
STATEMENT
After studying Visual Arts, I’ve pursued a Master’s degree in Architecture where I found drawing to be a helpful tool of thinking and transmitting ideas to others when words fail to do so. My work is now a combination of my different backgrounds and experiences. I mainly focus on the human figure, nature and the relationship between both. I’m interested in different cultures and ways of living. I’m drawn to places that are full of life, those being busy cities or natural locations completely untouched by humans. Although I work with other mediums, oil pastel is the key element in my practice. There is no other material where this type of expression can be achieved not only in texture but also this connection that you get through your hand to the paper/canvas/wood where at some point the pastels and fingers merge into one. That’s special.
