Carolina Piteira is a Lisbon-based visual artist whose work explores identity, memory, and the female experience through expressive, figurative compositions. Her paintings often portray women as central figures of emotion and strength, capturing the beauty and complexity of everyday life. Deeply inspired by Portugal’s cultural heritage, light, and textures, she weaves stories that connect personal and collective narratives.
Among her career highlights is the large-scale project Time Without Time / Out of Time, commissioned by EDP and exhibited at Central Tejo in Lisbon. She has also collaborated with leading brands, including Delta Coffee, and represented Portuguese creativity internationally as an Ambassador for “Portugal Sou Eu.” Her solo show No Teu Lugar (In Your Place) paid tribute to women’s roles and inner worlds, earning wide acclaim.
Carolina Piteira has exhibited across Europe — from London to Venice — continuing to bring a deeply human and poetic voice to contemporary art.
How would you describe your artistic style, and what emotions or ideas do you hope to express through it?
I am an artist of color. My paintings are always very colorful and often combine collage with fabrics and paper to add texture and depth. I like to create pieces that invite reflection on identity and on our relationship with the world. There’s always a story and an emotional layer behind every painting.
What themes or subjects do you find yourself returning to most often in your work?
I often explore the complexity of modern existence from a woman’s perspective. My work reflects emotional and social narratives - moments of transformation and resilience. Recently, I’ve been drawn to landscapes and forest paths as metaphors for self-discovery and the uncertainty we all share in this fast-changing world.
What is it about Lisbon that inspires you creatively?
I was born in Lisbon, and Lisbon owns my heart. Its light and atmosphere have a timeless quality that deeply inspire me. It’s a city where tradition and modernity coexist, and yet it remains beautifully authentic.
How does Portugal’s cultural heritage — its traditions, colors, and atmosphere — influence your art?
Portugal is full of contrasts: brightness and melancholy, simplicity and depth. These elements influence my palette and the emotional tone of my work. I’m inspired by the authenticity and resilience that define the Portuguese spirit, and by the quiet beauty that hides in everyday life here.
What are your favorite places in Lisbon or beyond to experience art and culture?
I love visiting MAAT, Museu do Chiado, and small independent galleries around Marvila and Bairro Alto. Outside Lisbon, I often seek inspiration in nature, particularly in the landscapes of Santarém or along the Atlantic coast in Foz do Arelho.
What would your ideal art-and-culture day in Lisbon look like?
It would start early in my studio, working alongside my mother and my dog. Later, I’d walk through Chiado to enjoy the sun, the colors, and the small details that make the city feel so alive. The afternoon would be for visiting an exhibition opening with friends, talking about ideas, art, and life... a day where creativity flows naturally.
