It is with profound sadness that the School of Arts at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and its entire community have learned of the passing of the artist Luísa Cunha.
A leading figure in Portuguese contemporary art, Luísa Cunha developed a singular artistic practice over more than three decades, exploring the relationships between word, sound, image, and space. Through subtle gestures, understated humour, and an extraordinary attentiveness to everyday life, she created a body of work that continues to challenge the ways we see, hear, and think.
Her connection with the School of Arts was marked by a lecture she gave in 2021 on her work, guided by the idea of sound as an object. With the generosity and intelligence that characterised her practice, she shared with students, faculty, and researchers her understanding of artistic creation as a continuous exercise in listening, attentiveness, and shifting perspectives, reflecting on the ways in which words become sound and sound becomes thought.
Born in Lisbon in 1949, Luísa Cunha attended the Advanced Sculpture Course at Ar.Co – School of Visual Arts and exhibited regularly from 1993 onwards. Her work was featured in major solo and group exhibitions in Portugal and internationally, including her retrospective at Fundação de Serralves (2007), the Sydney Biennale (2004), and the São Paulo Biennial (2021). In 2021, she was awarded the Fundação EDP Art Prize, recognising the significance and singularity of her artistic career. Her work is represented in major public and private collections.
At this time of deep sorrow, the School of Arts and the Universidade Católica Portuguesa pay tribute to Luísa Cunha and extend their heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, and all those who shared in her artistic and personal journey. Her legacy will endure as an essential reference in Portuguese contemporary art and for all those who had the privilege of learning from her work and her presence.
May we never stop hearing her singular voice and unmistakable laughter. We invite you to revisit the recording of the remarkable conversation she shared with the School of Arts in May 2021.
