Dual art exhibition bridges Lisbon and Paris
This initiative aims to strengthen the artistic dialogue between Lisbon and Paris.
The dual art exhibition Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa (“Lisbon Don’t Be French”) has brought together artists from Lisbon and Paris, fostering a creative exchange between the Portuguese and the French capital.
Named after the famous song by Amália Rodrigues, the exhibitions metaphorically reflects Lisbon’s challenge of maintaining its unique identity amid globalization and foreign influences.
The first part of the exhibition was inaugurated last week at L’Atlas Galerie des Mondes in Paris, where 13 artists living and working in Lisbon offered the French audience an artistic perspective on their city.
Featuring sculpture, painting, photography, and video installations, Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa explores the tension between tradition and modernity, heritage and reinvention.
Now, the second part of the exchange has opened in Lisbon, featuring 11 French artists sharing their vision with the Portuguese public.
The exhibition at Galeria Foco (R. Antero de Quental 55A, 1150-041 Lisboa, Portugal) opened on Thursday, April 3, 2025 until May 10, 2025 and presents works by artists currently residing in Paris.
The participating artists include Alice Guittard, Anne-Charlotte Finel, John Fou, Laura Garcia Karras, Lou Masduraud, Marion Flament, Matisse Mesnil, Max Coulon, Sarah Valente, Ugo Schildge, and Vincent Voillat.
Cities in resonance
Through this dual exhibition, Lisbon and Paris do not stand in opposition but rather in resonance.
Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa invites visitors to question how cities influence artists, observe how identities evolve through cultural dialogues, and see art as a bridge between past and future, tradition and reinvention.
Each piece encapsulates fragments of Lisbon’s layered history, evolving landscapes, and the contemporary forces shaping its identity.
Rather than opposing one another, the two cities engage in a resonant conversation through this artistic bridge.
The exhibitions invites visitors to reflect on how urban spaces shape artists, how identities evolve through cultural exchange, and how art connects past and future, tradition and innovation.
Details on the Paris exhibition
Opened on March 20, the exhibition will run until May 17, providing an opportunity for French audiences to engage with Lisbon’s contemporary art scene.
Curated by Ben Gonthier, the exhibition not only introduces Portuguese artists to an international audience but also emphasizes the close-knit support system behind the Foco Gallery.
Gonthier, who has lived in Lisbon for over a decade and mastered the language, has been instrumental in bringing these artists together and creating a coherent narrative rather than a mere collection of works.
The featured artists - Luísa Salvador, Márcio Vilela, Clara Imbert, Gabriel Ribeiro, Manon Harrois, Francisco Trêpa, Nádia Duvall, Mia Dudek, Maria Appleton, Manuel Tainha, Hugo Cantegrel, Pauline Guerrier, and Rodolfo Quintas - offer a multifaceted reflection on Lisbon’s cultural, geological, and maritime identity, as well as its engagement with digital innovation and domestic spaces.
Among the works on display, O Luto das Pedras by Luísa Salvador presents a striking visual narrative, while Francisco Trêpa’s hybrid ceramic and wax sculptures blur the lines between reality and dream.
Hugo Cantegrel’s Every Man for Himself and Maria Appleton’s textile installation further highlight themes of memory, perception, and layered experiences.
The exhibition has become a gathering point for both Portuguese expatriates and French art enthusiasts, reinforcing Lisbon’s growing presence on the global art scene.
The vibrant opening event reflected Lisbon’s unique character, as artists, collectors, diplomats, and students mingled, sharing conversations over Lisbon-sourced wine and beer.
Beyond an art exhibition, Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa is a statement about Lisbon’s evolving identity - both within Portugal and abroad.