Born in Porto on September 16, 1923, this artist graduated in Architecture from the School of Fine Arts in Porto in 1947. In addition to his work as an architect, he also dedicated himself professionally to other areas such as painting, archaeology, museology, and astronomy.
Considered a pioneer of geometric abstract art in Portugal, he was an active organizer of the Independent Exhibitions between 1944 and 1950. In 1949, he received the Marques de Oliveira National Drawing Prize and represented Portugal at the Venice Biennale in 1954 and the São Paulo Biennale in 1953, 55, 57, 59, 61, and 75.
In 1973, he was appointed director of the Ethnographic and Historical Museum of Porto, a position he held until 1993. In 1977, he was appointed Secretary-General of the “Geography of Color” exhibition at the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
In 1986, he was honored with a special exhibition at the Vila Nova de Cerveira International Art Biennial, and in 1987 and 1993, his entire body of work was presented by the Ministry of Culture in Lisbon and Porto, respectively. In 1997, he received the Amadeu de Souza-Cardoso Grand Prize, and in 2000, he was awarded the CELPA-Vieira da Silva Plastic Arts Consagração Prize.
In 2005, he was granted an honorary doctorate degree by the Faculty of Fine Arts in Porto and the exhibition “Lanhas c.1945” was held at the National Museum of Soares dos Reis.
The artist passed away on February 4, 2012, in the city of Porto.
