About

Kunsthalle Lisbon opened its doors to the public in July 2009 with the desire to reflect on what is an institution and to explore what institutional models we can collectively imagine and produce. It also aimed to exist in the world at large, becoming a part of it and actively contributing to the reflection and dialogue on many artistic and curatorial practices that have shaped how we perceive and think about contemporary art and its role in the world we live in. Much has changed since then, as it naturally would. The Kunsthalle Lisbon of 2009 and that of 2024 will have, besides their foundational principles and commitment to developing a critical and self-reflective practice, very little in common, and it is fortunate that this is the case. The themes that interest us have evolved, the geographies we pay attention to have shifted, and the place we occupy and the objectives we set have adjusted to the context in which we operate.

Kunsthalle Lissabon is now an institution entering its adolescence. We're ready to celebrate! 2024 is dedicated to commemorating our 15th anniversary.
The solo exhibition program will take a break, resuming in 2025. In its place, we'll showcase a series of three group shows that will draw upon all the projects we have presented over the years as a lexicon from which narrative, formal, conceptual, and political threads can be created. It will be a program where we enter a retrospective mode, as a way to trace possible avenues for the future. Looking back to move forward with confidence. Our invited curators include Alberta Romano, a collaborator with Kunsthalle Lisbon in recent years, intimately familiar with the house and program; Yina Jiménez Suriel, a Dominican curator offering a meticulous, even surgical, examination of a specific aspect of our program; and Filipa Ramos, a fellow traveler and a partner in endless dialogues about what art we are interested in showing, under what conditions, and for whom. Additionally, a comprehensive monograph, edited by Kunsthalle Lisbon founders João Mourão and Luís Silva, will extensively document over 60 individual exhibitions presented in the past 15 years. The year holds great promise!

One of Kunsthalle Lisbon's distinctive features has been its constant image change. Each year, we transformed our logo and visual identity, intentionally signaling institutional instability and fluidity. This mode of communication and public presentation became a deliberate way to express this idea. Now, for our anniversary, we'll revisit some of these past images. Curators and monograph editors have chosen images that defined Kunsthalle Lisbon, showcasing the reappearance of logos that left a mark on our existence. This further challenges the conventional understanding of institutional image communication, highlighting the unique graphic design and communication work developed over the years.

The celebration is on the horizon! Kunsthalle Lisbon has entered adolescence!
Let's ensure the birthday cake, gifts, and iconic playlist are all part of the festivities!

João Mourão, Co-Director
j.mourao@kunsthalle-lissabon.org

Luís Silva, Director
l.silva@kunsthalle-lissabon.org

Stafania Lisouskaya, Assistant Curator
info@kunsthalle-lissabon.org 

Pedro Canoilas, Production and Installation

Sara Mealha, Educational Service
saramealha@gmail.com