Description
About the Artist :
Born in Lisbon, in 1966, Monica Machado has lived and worked in Paris since 1981, where she graduated in Fine Arts at the Ecole National des Beaux Arts, in 1992. Starting from the gathering of objects made of cloth and ceramic pieces, in mosaic or glass, Monica Machado deconstructs the materials and explores them in layers and collages, alluding to themes such as nature, religion and everyday lite. Some pieces include lighting which, combined with the bright colour and the glow of the materials, reinforces the idea that Monica Machado’s work comprehends a fantastical dimension.
About the Artwork :
How can one make aesthetic an everyday object that, for us, has become reduced solely to its function? Monica Machado offers her own answer through this work. Red and black tones dominate. The traffic lights no longer serve merely a functional purpose; they become decorative elements. The lights illuminate randomly, lingering at times or alternating rapidly. The object is transformed into a dynamic work of art, bringing life through the rhythm of its illumination.
As in each of her works, she imbues this “Red Light” with humorous and symbolic qualities. Aside from the amber light, each signal opens onto a particular universe waiting to be discovered.
Each is connected to the color in which it appears.
Red expresses prohibition, stopping. To go beyond it is to cross established boundaries. Added to this are notions of warmth and sensuality. When it lights up, one can glimpse the upside-down nude body of a woman, with a bas-relief in the background depicting erotic scenes.
When the green light illuminates, it signifies “go forward.” But it also reclaims its bucolic character. The message becomes: “take the green.”
As it lights up, a pastoral landscape is revealed, with cows grazing in lush green meadows, a farmyard, a village, and a castle in the distance.
Biography :
1966, Born in Lisbon, Portugal.
Lives in Paris since 1981.
Degree in Fine arts by the National School of Fine Arts in Paris (1992), (Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts).
Solo Shows :
2026 Gabrielle Laroche Gallery, Paris
2022 Berthet Aittouares Gallery, « Le Monde fantastique de Monica Machado »
Paris, (06.10 – 29.10)
2013 Oliva Creative Factory Foundation, Portugal
2012 Gabrielle Laroche Gallery (23.09 – 23.10)
2011 – M like Mosaïc, in Paray le Monial
– Boites Noires correspondances, Café Flore Paris
2008 – Michel Soskine Gallery, Madrid
– Art Elysées, Berthet- Aittouares Gallery
1994 Callu Mérite Gallery, Paris (14.06 – 23.07)
Group Shows
2024 La Halle Saint Pierre, « Esprit Singulier » Expo coll, Paris (12.04 – 14.08)
2009 Art Brussels
2008 “5 Portuguese Artists” Enero- Marzo. Michel Soskine Inc. Madrid.
2006 « Kaléidoscopique » Villa Dutoit, Switzerland.
2002/05 Creation of sculptures for the “La cuisine aménagée” project. One of theese sculptures: ” La croix du Christ”.
2001 Galouste Gubenkian Cultural center, « Le Corps », Expo coll, 51 Avenue de Iena, 75016 ( 27.11. – 21.12. 2001)
2000 “Art Paris”. Carrousel du Louvre. Paris, France.
1999 Leonardo Gallery, Paris.
1998 – “III Biennal de Arte AIP”. Porto, Portugal.
– “L’art du temps dans les jardins de la ville”. François Mitterand Park, Evreux.
– Galerie Leonardo, Paris
1997 – Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
– « Creation under Threat » Sud Gallery. Bagneux, France.
– « Iglesia del Monasterio Ntra Sra de prado » , Espagne.
– « Encontro Artistico- Cultural ». Fundacâo da juventude, Porto, Portugal.
– « Biennal da MAIA Arte jovem 97 “. Porto, Portugal and Valladolid, Spain.
1996 – “II Biennal de Arte AIP”. Porto, Portugal.
– Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
– ” Sculpture interactive”. La Rochelle, France.
– “Courant d’art”. Deauville, France.
– Young Painting salon. Quai Branly. Paris, France.
1995 – « Portugal in Montrouge”. Montrouge, France.
– Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
– Contemporary art salon. Bagneux, France.
1994 – Salon d’Art Contemporain de Bagneux
– Salon de Mars, Galerie Callu Mérite, Paris: participe avec une pièce importante
(“Armor”). (Reportage sur Antenne 2 au journal de 20h).
– Art Jonction Cannes, Galerie Callu Mérite, Paris.
– Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
1993 – Callu-Mérite Gallery. Paris, France.
– “Young European artists”. Castellon, Spain.
– Salon de Montrouge. France.
– Salon des Félicités. Quai Malaquais. Paris, France.
1990 Galerie des Beaux-arts, Paris.
Cultural Activity :
2006/07 Workshop Children and Parents, “Parents-Enfants” association “Traces”. La Forge, France.
Grants, Awards :
1997 “Bordalo Pinheiro” Award, Portugal.
1995 – Artwork “Amor” bought by F.R.A.C. Ile-de-France.
-Help in the creation of “Le Landau”. Fine Art Department.
1994 Help in the first exhibition, Ministry of Culture, France.
1993 – 3rd Award at the Salon of Montrouge, France.
– Sculpture Award. “Salon des Félicités” of National School of Fine Arts. Paris, France.