Antonio Vidigal

António Vidigal was born in 1936 in Safara, Alentejo, Portugal. He completed his Fine Arts Sculpture course in Lisbon in 1972, marking the beginning of a distinguished artistic career. Between 1975 and 2000, Vidigal played a pivotal role in organizing major cultural events such as the Sculpture Biennial and the Stone Sculpture Symposium in Caldas da Rainha. He also served as president of the first Installation Commission at the Higher School of Arts and Design, contributing significantly to the development of sculpture education and practice in Portugal.

Vidigal’s sculptural work is known for its sensual forms that act as authentic cartographies of the human body. His style fluctuates between geometric influences reminiscent of Cubism,

neo-figurative elements, and abstraction. A strong sense of movement characterizes his sculptures, with Vidigal skillfully making massive marble blocks appear to rotate with lightness or crafting kinetic sculptures that engage viewers dynamically. His mastery extends to creating his own tools, such as pantographs, which aid in precise reproduction and scaling, allowing him to work across diverse materials including stone, wood, and bronze.

Throughout his career, Vidigal has embraced innovation, incorporating synthetic materials like expanded polystyrene coated with polyurethane resin into his practice. In 2010, he showcased the first four pieces of his 'Geishas' series at the Museu do Oriente in Lisbon a project that evolved into a collection of six sculptures designed to adapt fluidly to architectural and theatrical spaces such as gardens. Currently, Vidigal continues to push creative boundaries with new works including sculptures titled "Aphrodite" and "Eros," underscoring his ongoing dedication to artistic research and expression.