In 2023, the exhibition “De ontem para hoje… e o azulejo sempre vivo!” publicly confirmed O Gringo’s connection with Montijo — the city the artist chose as his home, the location of his studio and an important base for the development of his artistic practice. O Gringo in Montijo .
O Gringo Exhibition
Galeria Municipal de Montijo
An Exhibition at Galeria Municipal do Montijo
Presented at the invitation of the Montijo Municipal Council, the exhibition was held at Galeria Municipal do Montijo from 5 October to 22 November 2023.
The exhibition brought together works combining photography, digital creation and ceramics, presenting azulejo through a distinctly contemporary language that has become central to O Gringo’s artistic identity.
Held on Portugal’s Republic Day, the opening was attended by Nuno Canta, then Mayor and President of the Montijo Municipal Council; Dora Fernandes, Programming and Education Coordinator at the Museu Nacional do Azulejo; and Cristina Dias, President of the Board of CERCIMA.
Their presence reflected three essential dimensions of O Gringo’s work in Montijo: artistic creation, cultural cooperation and social responsibility.
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O Gringo in Montijo and the Museu Nacional do Azulejo
Earlier that year, the museum had presented O Gringo’s solo exhibition “Esperança além do horizonte”, a major project that explored the relationship between photography, the human body, music and azulejo.
In Montijo, this artistic research acquired a more local and community-focused dimension, connecting the artist’s practice with the city he chose in which to live, establish his studio and continue creating.
O Gringo – Museu Nacional do Azulejo de Lisboa
Art and Inclusion: The Collaboration with CERCIMA
O Gringo’s social commitment was represented in the exhibition through a work created with the participation of students from CERCIMA — Cooperativa de Educação, Reabilitação, Capacitação e Inclusão de Montijo e Alcochete.
This relationship continued to develop through educational activities, fundraising initiatives and collaborative projects that use art as a means of promoting inclusion, confidence and dignity.
The collaboration with CERCIMA demonstrates that O Gringo’s commitment to Montijo extends beyond his studio and the exhibition space. It is also expressed through sustained engagement with local institutions and the wider community.
O Gringo and Cercima – Museu Nacional do Azulejo de Lisboa
“Eva”: O Gringo’s First Mural
The programme was also marked by the inauguration of “Eva”, O Gringo’s first mural, installed at Rua Pocinho das Nascentes in Montijo.
By bringing his artistic language into the public space, O Gringo created a permanent work for the city that welcomed his studio.
The mural strengthened the connection between the artist and Montijo, making his work accessible beyond the walls of galleries and cultural institutions.
O Gringo street art – Mural Eva, Montijo
O Gringo street art – Mural Eva, Montijo
O Gringo street art – Mural Eva, Montijo
A Lasting Commitment to Montijo
More than an exhibition, this project represented a public declaration of O Gringo’s commitment to Montijo.
It is a relationship built through artistic creation, a continuous presence in the city, cooperation with cultural and social institutions, and direct engagement with the local community.
The Montijo Municipal Council also published an official catalogue dedicated to the exhibition, with ISBN 978-989-8122-96-4, creating a permanent institutional record of this important chapter in the relationship between O Gringo and Montijo.
Exhibition Catalogue Available
O Gringo Exhibition Catalogue Available
Photos from the Opening of O Gringo’s Exhibition in Montijo, 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
O gringo Exhibition – Montijo 2023
Official References
Official exhibition catalogue published by the Montijo Municipal Council
O Gringo exhibition at the Galeria Municipal do Montijo
Art and Inclusion: O Gringo and CERCIMA
Original Instagram publication
Learn More About O Gringo
O Gringo Estrela da Amadora: Sonhadores, o mural em azulejo pela inclusão
The Route of Blue — How German Cobalt and Chinese Porcelain Shaped European Azulejo
O Gringo in Ovar: Entre Dois Mundos at Aveiro 2024
O Gringo Museu Nacional do Azulejo de Lisboa
Written by
Gusttavo Henri Borges
Founder & CEO – Paris 75 Image, Lda.
Founder – La Smart Galerie
International Cultural Producer • Art Director • International Art Consultant
Specialized in international cultural projects, museum exhibitions, institutional partnerships and the global promotion of contemporary art.
Lisbon • Paris