JOSÉ MAIA
José Maia was born in Santo Tirso in 1959. He has a Master's Degree in Painting from the Royal College of ArtLondon, where he received a Prize for his Master's Thesis. He has a Postgraduate in Painting from St. Martin's School of Art (fellow from Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation). He lived in London for 15 years where he contacted artists like Paula Rego, Francis Bacon and Peter Blake. He exhibited individually in London at the Long & Ryle Art International Gallery and at the European Academy.
He participated in numerous collective exhibitions in Portugal and abroad and held dozens of solo exhibitions, among them at the Soares dos Reis Museum and the Galeria Graça Brandão. Graduated in painting by the Faculty of Fine Arts of Porto, finished the course with 19 in a scale from 0 to 20 in Painting and History of Art. He taught Painting and Drawing as an Instrument of Thought at the IPT for ten years. In 2014 he was a Specialist at the Polytechnic Institute of Tomar, approved unanimously.
He traveled to several countries in Europe including France, Spain, Italy, England, Scotland, visiting Museums, Art Biennials and comercial galleries, and he also went to New York.
He was awarded several times: He was awarded the Grand Prize of the 1st Biennial of Art of Gaia. At the 1st Biennial of Aveiro received the 1st Prize. Received the 1st Prize in the Baviera Painting competition. The 1st Prize of the First AIP Biennial. The Alen Lane Penguin Book Prize at the Royal College of Art. The Benetton Prize at St. Martin's School of Art. The "Man and the Flight" and the Augusto Gomes Prize at the FBAUP. He is represented in several public and private collections spread over several countries such as South Africa, Portugal, Singapore, Norway and England. Of note is the FBAUP collection, Mr Peter Langan - USA and Lord Rothermere - UK.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (Selection)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (Selection)
PRIZES
(Awarded for his Master's Thesis)
COLLECTIONS (Selection)
BIBLIOGRAPHY (Selection)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
José Maia lived in London for 15 years, during that time he dedicated himself exclusively to painting. He has travelled through Europe (France, Spain, Belgium, Holland, Scotland, Italy) he has also gone to New York visiting Art Galleries and Museums.
While living in London he met Paula Rego, Nicolas Serrota, Francis Bacon, Peter Blake, Julian Shnable. Charles Jenks, Brian Sewel, among others.
After his return to Portugal in 2001, he was cofounder of "CENAQUATRO", a cultural association witch organized art exhibitions, published books and organized theatre courses as well as produced theatre events in conjunction and for the community. He was also a founding member of the "Associação para a Defesa dos Interesses de Água Longa" an important initiative which raised public awareness towards environmental issues.
José Maia has always been involved in social causes, participating in fundraising events such as "Causa de Timor” as well as contributing to Charities such as "ASAS" and" ATACA", an association that helps African children.
José Maia was part of the selection panel at "1 ° Prémio de Pintura da Galeria Santa Clara, Coimbra. He was part of the training team at "Open Mind” — “Dance with Images"h. He organized and teach children as well as adults as part of the Summer Courses at his studio.
José Maia did various presentations at local schools like Escola Superior de Design de Matosinhos, Didaxis, V.N. de Famalicao and Escola Secundaria D. Dinis, Sto Tirso.
José Maia was a member of "Conselho Geral" at EB23 Agrela and a City-councillor at Camara Municipal de Santo Tirso. He has written various articles for the local newspaper "Jornal de Santo Thyrso".
For ten years he taught various subjects at “Instituto Politécnico de Tomar” on the Painting Degree Course, where he always achieved the highest marks awarded by students.