Ana Araújo

What’s ArtRoom and how does it differ from a traditional art gallery?

ArtRoom is not a conventional gallery representing a fixed group of artists. Instead, it’s a dynamic space for artists, art lovers, and curious minds. Since 2015, ArtRoom has been dedicated to making art accessible to a whole new generation of collectors. It’s been incredibly rewarding to see young people buying art… and returning for more!

Collaborating with artists, curators, and cultural agents, we showcase both emerging talents and established, recognized artists, both national and international. We also work with other institutions that present their exhibitions, like digital art galleries and digital art platforms.

Located in a 19th-century attic in Lisbon’s Príncipe Real district, ArtRoom offers an intimate setting for diverse artistic expressions—from painting, photography, and sculpture to installation and performance. It serves as a dynamic platform where artists can explore new ideas and present work that challenges conventional formats. Over the past 10 years, we’ve hosted a variety of exhibitions and events, creating a space that encourages dialogue and innovation.

ArtRoom is recognized within Lisbon’s art scene for its commitment to nurturing creativity and providing a supportive environment for artists to develop and showcase their work.

What inspired you to create a space that showcases art?

Two early experiences from my corporate background and work on large-scale events shaped this path: as a managing partner of Mercado Mundo Mix, a vibrant platform for alternative culture in Portugal and Brazil, and as a project manager throughout its entire lifecycle at Expo 98, an international celebration of innovation and creativity around culture. Both showed me what’s possible when you bring people, ideas, and art together in thoughtful, unexpected ways. They also planted the seed for something more lasting.

That seed became ArtRoom—a space I imagined and developed with a friend. I worked in the building where ArtRoom started and I wanted to use that space to show art just like I did before, we started there and one year after they showed us this amazing 19th century attic and it was love at first sight. After the first couple of years, I continued this project on my own, with the mission to support emerging artists and new formats for cultural expression. It’s a continuation of that early impulse: to create environments where bold ideas can take shape, and where new voices are not only welcomed but elevated. ArtRoom is not just a platform or a gallery; it’s a living process. It’s about helping new artists find their place, and building bridges between art, audience, and opportunity. It’s also a place for testing ideas and new formats, where established artists can show their work and share their experiences too.

It’s all about connection—between artists and visitors, concept and execution, tradition and what’s next. In the end, we don’t just consume culture; we need to cultivate it by supporting artists, investing in them, and buying their art in exchange for beauty in our lives or different perspectives, innovation, new ways of thinking, and fresh forms of expression that can redefine the cultural landscape. We all need art!

How do you curate exhibitions—do you focus on specific themes, styles, or emerging talents?

Although I have studied and taken a curatorship course, I do not really curate I leave that to the professionals and we have so many and so good ones; instead, I select and program the exhibitions according to the availability of our calendar and the artists I choose. I try to alternate styles to avoid always presenting the same type of work. I also aim to include new artists alongside more recognized ones and occasionally hold collective exhibitions.

What kind of artists do you work with?

I work with artists who are talented, inspired, and deeply passionate about what they do—people with vision, who truly understand what they’re creating and are rooted in their own voice. They might be disruptive or connect in other ways, but they need to provoke something, some feeling. Whether they come to me with an idea for an exhibition or I seek them out because something in their work speaks to me, there’s always this immediate connection. It’s very intuitive—almost like a click. It just happens.

Most of them are incredibly dedicated. They work hard, are often perfectionists, and care about every detail of how their work is presented. I give them total freedom to explore and express what they feel is right for the space and for their art. Some artists ask for guidance and advice; others prefer full independence. I respect both approaches. I these cases I only step in when it’s really necessary—usually for practical matters like spatial logistics or technical considerations—but I genuinely enjoy watching them work freely.

Sometimes I’ll come in the next day and find the space completely transformed. It’s a surprise to me as much as it is to the visitors who reach the top of the stairs at ArtRoom. That moment of discovery—that quiet wow—is what makes it all worthwhile.

What are the highlights of the year in your art program?

We’ve just finished the group show for our 10th anniversary—Reflect Collect—a photography exhibition featuring an amazing group of 10 artists. The exhibition was outstanding, and we had many visitors. Thanks to the quality of the photographers, it was very rewarding to see, after all these years, so many supporting art lovers, friends, and loyal collectors.

From May 8 to 9, we’re receiving another group show presented by Subjektiv and Francisco Duarte Coelho. We’ve never had so many artists at the same time, and they are all exceptional! This is unmissable.

At the end of May, from the 31st until July 7, Paula Guimarães is returning with an incredible photography exhibition. Paula has consistently presented the most beautiful exhibitions. I’m really curious to see this one.

We’ll have more events in June and July, but I can’t reveal much yet. Themes like Summer Solstice, Portraits, and Surf will be featured. In early September, we’ll present a very edgy exhibition with the artist Ana Pais, and it will be fantastic.

We’re also introducing some new artists working with textiles and photography, bringing a refreshing new perspective. The talented Sofia Pidwell will present a site-specific work and performance from November 20 to 22. I’m already counting the days…

Some of the artists:
Mario Belém, Filipe Pinto Soares, Tamara Alves, Kruella d’Enfer, Maria Imaginário, Mariana Miserável, Clara Não, Dylan Silva, Rueffa, Margarida Fleming, Teresa Murta, Mario Macilau, Cátia Castel-Branco, Wen Jun, Cátia Pessoa, Branca Cuvier, Francisco Nogueira, Cecile Mestelan, João Galrão, João Mouro, Mariana Dias Coutinho, Rita Fernandes, Maria Castel-Branco, Sofia Magalhães, Pedro Batista, Gonçalo Beja da Costa, Carolina Pimenta, Madalena Fezas Vital, Manuel Amaral Netto, Yu Lin Humm, Mariana Cáceres, Rodrigo Rosa, José Taborda, Fábio Colaço, Andres Ciccone, Alexander Mignot, Francisco Rivas, Ivan Covas, Juan Gerbasi, Nat Sly, Filipe Real Marinheiro, Bruno Lisboa, Sebastien Navosad, Henriette Arcelin, Pedro Duarte Jorge, Paulo Albuquerque, Mimi Saunders, David Rosado, Theodore Ereira-Guyer, Lisette van Hoogenhuyze, Helena Bleck, Rodrigo Amado, Sofia Barros, Sara Peres, Sam Einstein, Pat Mariano, Hana Tischler, Diogo Nunes, Ricardo Imperial, Miguel Castro Ângelo, Filipa Batista, Neide Carreira, Ana Cunha, Carolina Vaz, Madalena Cassiano, Liz, Sara Oliveira Martins, Nuno Alecrim, Raquel Espadinha, André Costa, Joana Coelho, Juliana Campos, Vasco Magellan, Tomás Tomás, Matilde Cunha Araújo,  Gizem Winter, Jo Kitchen, Camilo Nuñez, Helene Klug, Alex Kuznetsov, Ragnhild Nes, Giulia Giu, Inês Prats, Mami Pereira, Ike Ferreira, António Avelar, Claudia Sorbac, Alena Ahrens, Nina Fraser, Paula Guimarães, Pascual Rodriguez, Luís Branquinho da Fonseca, Holly Biörklund, Jéssica Ilfu-Soi, Anita Ljung, Antonia Figueiredo, Franka Struys, João Lança de Morais, Miguel Neiva, Bruno Tomaz da Costa, Manuel Gomes da Costa, Ana  Paganini,… and some more