About

Kunsthalle Lissabon was founded by Luís Silva and João Mourão in 2009 to explore and reimagine institutional models. Since its inception, KL has been dedicated to shaping contemporary art through innovative artistic and curatorial practices, working in multidisciplinary and transparent ways.

Though primarily rooted in Lisbon’s cultural and digital landscape, KL carries a name that resists easy categorization. While its title suggests a connection to the German Kunsthalle tradition, KL does not align with any traditional framework nor conform to conventional institutional expectations.

At the heart of Kunsthalle Lissabon lies a paradox: the impossibility of sustaining a truly anti-institutional stance while being drawn to the idea of dissent from within. This tension fuels KL’s mission—to infiltrate existing value systems, not to replicate them, but to challenge and reshape them from the inside.

Yet KL is more than a conceptual experiment. It stands as an alternative to traditional institutional structures and neoliberal norms, expanding the very notion of what an institution can be. Radical hospitality remains its core principle, defined by generosity, solidarity, and sociability.

For over 15 years, Kunsthalle Lissabon has fostered interdisciplinary relationships across the art world—connecting artists, curators, directors, collectors, and critics—while strengthening a network of like-minded institutions.

Kunsthalle Lissabon is supported by República Portuguesa / DGArtes and the Lisbon Municipality.