Born in Chaves in 1920, Nadir Afonso graduated in architecture from the School of Fine Arts in Porto. In 1946, he attended the School of Fine Arts in Paris, where he lived for many years and had the opportunity to develop his knowledge and contacts. During his time in Paris, he worked in Le Corbusier’s studio and had a close relationship with Vasarely, sharing a friendship and an affinity for aesthetics.
Although initially trained as an architect, Nadir Afonso decided to fully dedicate himself to painting in 1965. However, he maintained strong ties to his architectural background, as evidenced by his preference for urban architectures within a geometric style that came to define his work in the 1950s. He integrated this movement in the series ‘Espacillimité’ in 1955, and later developed a language that best represents his style, combining geometric elements with figurative references to real or imagined urban landscapes.
Nadir Afonso’s contributions also extended to important public works. He designed the Panificadora de Chaves, a building of municipal interest and one of the 100 most significant works of Portuguese architecture in the 20th century. He created panels for the Restauradores station of the Lisbon Metro in 1996, and in 2006 he executed a tile panel for the Coina Railway Station. In 2009, he created a tile panel for the Town Hall of Boticas, and in 2011, he executed tile panels for the tunnel providing access to the beach in Cascais.
In recognition of his achievements, Nadir Afonso was awarded the Military Order of Santiago de Espada by the President of Portugal, General Ramalho Eanes, on June 10, 1984. His work can be found in various public and private collections.
Nadir Afonso passed away at the age of 93 on December 11, 2013, in Cascais.
