Pedro Pires

Born in Luanda (1978, Angola). Represented by Gallery Momo (South Africa). He holds a master’s degree in Fine Arts from Central Saint Martins College of Design (London, UK). Graduated (2005) in Sculpture, by the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon (Portugal). In 2004 he was awarded an ERASMUS Fine Arts Scholarship to the University of Athens. In his work he explores issues of identity and stereotypes in direct relation to education, history and institutions. This interest comes from his personal experience as Angolan and Portuguese. He explores his identity and the political, social and economic positions of these two countries and continents. Pedro Pires uses different media, techniques, and everyday objects that are strongly utilitarian and mass produced to construct various figurative and conceptual meanings of identity in different societies. There is a constant concern to think about local and global issues, using references from traditional, popular, local or foreign contexts. His artistic career spans more than 10 years and includes public sculptures. His work has already been exhibited in places such as: the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal; Somerset House – 1:54 Art Fair, London; Grand Palais – ArtParis Art Fair, Paris; Gallery Momo, Johannesburg and Cape Town; Arsenale di Venezia, Venice; ELA – Espaço Luanda Art, Luanda; PS Art Space, Perth; among others. He participated in prestigious artistic residences such as Jaango in Luanda, and the Delfina Foundation in London.

Reference Work

Luandense (2015). Metal, plastic containers, diesel and water. 190x45x50cm.