Amadeo Carvalho

Cape Verde

"Amadeo's work is deeply autobiographical, political, and emotionally charged. Inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Pablo Picasso, René Tavares, and his mentor Mário Rita, he has developed a distinct visual language where portraiture merges with text, spontaneous gesture, and raw color.

His paintings inhabit the space between past and present, invoking both personal and collective memory — with strong ties to the African diaspora, ancestral narratives, and resistance. Text is a recurring element in his work, functioning as visual outcries or intimate reflections. His use of color is intense and visceral, and the figures — often anonymous or iconic Black subjects — carry expressions that range from contemplative to confrontational.

For Amadeo, painting is not merely aesthetic — it is urgency. His process is instinctive and fast, yet intentional and profound. Every stroke, word, and face is a fragment of a broader narrative — one that speaks of lived experience, of history, and of reclaiming voice.

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MEET

Amadeo Carvalho

Amadeo Carvalho (b. 1985, São Vicente, Cape Verde) is an artist whose journey reflects a continuous search for identity, belonging, and expression. Raised in the streets of Cova, Monte Sossego, he began drawing at a young age, unknowingly sketching the path that would define his future.

After emigrating to Portugal, it was at Seomara da Costa Primo Secondary School, under the guidance of artist Mário Rita, that his talent was first formally acknowledged. Amadeo explored design and later immersed himself in music, performing for eight years as the DJ The Grooveman. However, it was fatherhood and a life-altering accident that redirected him back to painting — encouraged by his partner, Érica Silva, who played a crucial role in reigniting his creative fire.

Following a demanding period working in London’s restaurant industry — where he rose to the position of sous-chef — Amadeo returned fully to art, creating from an improvised garage studio and reclaiming his voice as a visual artist. Today, he balances his work in the visual arts with his role as Creative Director of Noboh Kulture, a brand that treats fashion as a tool for cultural memory and identity.

He has exhibited in several important spaces, including the São Tomé Biennale (2024), CCM in Cape Verde (2023), and CCCV in Lisbon (2023), affirming his presence in the contemporary art scene.

FROM OUR BLOGUE
Black Art

March 2025 witnessed pivotal moments in Black art, from groundbreaking exhibitions like "Paris Noir" at the Pompidou Center to concerning policy changes affecting cultural institutions. The art world also mourned the loss of esteemed figures such as artist Fred Eversley and Ethiopian art historian Elizabeth Giorgis.

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