João Ferro Martins

João Ferro Martins (Santarém, 1979), graduated in Fine Arts at ESAD, Caldas da Rainha. Lives and works in Lisbon. His work is characterised by its multidisciplinary approach and the use of found objects. Working with painting, installation, drawing, performance and music, the artist appropriates everyday objects or images, from both collected and personal sources, in turn, attributing new meanings, translating ideas and memories into what is real and concrete.

Recent solo shows include: F-A-C-E, HANGAR – Centro de Investigação Artística, Lisbon (2025); It’s painted on her shirt in capitals, 3+1 Arte Contemporânea, Lisbon (2024); Eternally Collapsing Objects, curated by Tobi Maier, Pavilhão Branco (Galerias Municipais de Lisboa), Lisbon (2020); condition report, 3+1 Arte Contemporânea, Lisbon (2020); Fermata, CAPC, Coimbra (2019); Sotille sfumatura di rumore, 3+1 Arte Contemporânea, Lisbon (2017).

Important collective exhibitions include: Turn around. Um olhar sobre a Coleção de Arte Fundação EDP, curated by João Pinharanda, Margarida Chantre and Sérgio Mah, Museu de Arte Arquitectura e Tecnologia – MAAT, Lisbon (2026); Da dobra que chama e traz – Obras em papel da Coleção Figueiredo Ribeiro, curated by Catarina Mel and Ricardo Escarduça, Museu Ibérico de Arqueologia e Arte de Abrantes (2025); Fenda, curated by Joaquim Oliveira Caetano and Francisca Portugal, Fundação Eugénio de Almeida, Évora (2023); Garganta, curated by Raphael Fonseca, Centro Internacional de Artes José de Guimarães, Guimarães (2022); The Happy Death of Images, curated by Bruno Humberto & Franek Ammer, Muzeum Książki Artystycznej, Łódź, PL (2022);  Pintura: Campo de Observação Parte II, curated by João Pinharanda, Cristina Guerra Contemporary Art, Lisbon (2021); Ensaio para uma Comunidade, curated by Paulo Mendes, MAAT, Lisbon, PT (2021); Dear Image (Part I), 3+1 Arte Contemporânea, Lisbon, PT (2020); Constelações III, Museu Berardo, Lisboa (2020); O que não temos podemos criar, curated by Kasia Sobczak & PADA Studios, Fábrica Tinco, Barreiro, PT (2020); Wait, Berardo Musem, Lisbon (2019); Ciclo Cosmo/Política #2 – Conflito e Unidade, Museum of Neo-Realism, Vila Franca de Xira (2018); Germinal – O Núcleo Cabrita Reis na Coleção de Arte Fundação EDP, MAAT, Lisbon (2018); THEM OR US! Um Projecto de Ficção Científica Social e Política, Galeria Municipal do Porto, Porto (2017); Artistas comprometidos? Talvez, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon (2014); Prémio EDP Novos Artistas Fundação EDP, Porto (2013); Visões do Desterro, Caixa Cultural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2013); I wish this was a song, Music in Contemporary Art, Nasjonalmuseet, Museet for samtidskunst, Oslo (2012).

Co-creator and interpreter on-stage of: O Declive e a Inclinação and A Morte nos Olhos with Alexandre Pieroni Calado. Produces original sound themes for theatre and film since 2013. Created the scenography and figurines for the play O limpo e o sujo by Vera Mantero, 2016. Co-founder of the collective A kills B, with Hugo Canoilas, which was present in Nam June Paik Art Center, Seul, 2008; exhibited the project A mata B at F.C.Gulbenkian, Lisbon, 2012; and performed at Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 2013. Co-founder, along with André Tasso e Bruno Humberto, of the improv music project, Catarata.

Relevant collections include: Fundação EDP, Portugal; Figueiredo Ribeiro Collection, Portugal; Bjorn & Gundorph Collection, Denmark; Daniel Cervantes Collection, Spain; Coleção Nasjonalmuseet, Noway; Marin Gaspar Collection, Portugal; Contemporary Art Collection of Portuguese State, Portugal; Oliva Arauna Collection, Spain; and Vasco Santos Collection, Portugal.

Sound field

It’s painted on her shirt in capitals

condition report

Sottile sfumatura di rumore

La cosa che vuoi dirmi è bella o brutta?

When (X) is no more than an Epic of itself…, Tiago Leonardo, February 2024

Quando João Ferro Martins brinca, também faz perguntas, José Luís Porfírio, February 2024