Artist Paula Rego Distinguished as Portuguese Personality of the Year 2009

At the age of 75, the portuguese artist Paula Rego was distinguished with the prize Portuguese Personality of the Year 2009 (Prémio Personalidade Portuguesa do Ano 2009) attributed by the AIEP - Associação da Imprensa Estrangeira em Portugal (Foreign Press Association in Portugal)

The ceremony took place on September 8 in the Art Gallery of the Casino Estoril, where the Minister of Culture, Gabriela Canavilhas, together with the President of the AIEP, Adriana Niemeyer, handed the prize to the artist.
The event was also attended by the Secretary of Culture, Elísio Summavielle, and by the President (Mayor) of the City Hall of Cascais, António Capucho.

Living in England since 1976 and with an artistic career of near 50 years, Paula Rego has received ongoing recognition abroad and in the last year her art has finally found an exhibition place in Portugal with the inauguration of the Casa das Histórias, now showing retrospective of paintings by her late husband Victor Willing.

Created in 1990, the prize has in its purpose to distinguish the portuguese individual or entity that better reveals the name of Portugal in the world.

Victor Willing (1928-1988): A Retrospective - Casa das Histórias Paula Rego

The museum Casa das Histórias Paula Rego will present from September 9, 2010 through January 2, 2011, a retrospective of the artist and art critique Victor Willing (1928 - 1988), who played a prominent role at the Slade School of Fine Art.
Curated by Hellmut Wohl, the exhibition will be comprised of near 80 paintings including those belonging to the museum's collection, lent by his wife Paula Rego, and others loaned by the Arts Council Collection (Southbank Centre), the Pallant House Gallery, Tate Gallery and others.

Casa das Histórias Paula Rego

The museum dedicated to the portuguese artist Paula Rego was inaugurated on August 18th with an exhibition dedicated to the work of the artist between 1987 and 2008, including paintings loaned by the Marlborough Gallery.
Featured are also other artworks such as "Life Painting" (1954), created when studying at the Slade School of Fine Art (London).
Many of those paintings depict the female model Lila Nunes, Paula Rego's favourite model since 1988 and who also was Victor Willing's nurse.
Design by the portuguese arquitect Eduardo Souto Moura, the Casa das Histórias de Paula Rego museum has 750sq. meters, featuring an auditorium with a capacity for 200 people, a library, bookstore and spaces for permanent and temporary exhibitions.
The artist has loaned several paintings to the museum, including 15 by her later husband Victor Willing (1928-1988). for a renewable period of 10 years.
Among the several works of art, including 257 etchings and 278 drawings, the visitor may see a large tapestry based upon the work "Alcácer Quibir".
With free admitance between 10am and 10pm, the Casa das Histórias Paula Rego museum will present two temporary exhibitions per year (Spring and Autumn).