Maria João Damas

Website: https://damasmorais.wixsite.com/mariajoaodamas

Country: Portugal

Maria João Damas is a self-taught visual artist who lives and works in Coimbra, Portugal. Through her personal experiences, she skillfully captures glimpses into the lives of others. This unique perspective on the many lives she encounters evokes a sense of unease within her, ultimately guiding her artistic practice in painting and installations. Her creations often reflect personal, creative, and social struggles. She constantly explores different media, materials, and techniques in her work. While acrylic and mixed media are her primary mediums for painting, she typically employs canvas or paper as her base. However, her artistic expression also extends to installations and sculptures with themes revolving around social engagement, such as domestic violence. Maria João Damas not only explores personal and creative struggles in her artwork but also communicates positive social messages. Through her paintings and art, she sparks meaningful conversations and inspires a vision of a brighter tomorrow. Her work fosters hope, unity, and collective action for positive change. She has participated in various exhibitions. Among many others, the following stand out: "Gradient" in London, 2023, Focus Art Fair in Paris,2022, "Cumplicidades" in Porto, 2022, the selection of "Q1 - Not after another day..." at the London Art Biennale, 2021, a collective digital exhibition at the W1 Curates Gallery in London, 2021, "Mal me quer, bem me quer, muito, pouco ou nada" at Museu Municipal de Espinho (2022), and "And not even after another day... [quarantine collection]" at the Museu Municipal Coimbra (2020).

Eugene Kuperman

Katrin Loy