Nikias Skapinakis

Nikias Skapinakis (Lisbon, 1931-2020), a Portuguese artist of Greek descent, was the most proficient and consistent artist of his generation. He attended an Architecture course, which he eventually abandoned to dedicate himself to painting, an activity he pursued regularly until his death. His work was first exhibited in 1948, as part of a group show at Sociedade Nacional de Belas Artes (SNBA). Since then, he presented several solo shows and took part in several group events, in Portugal and abroad. Oil painting was his main vehicle, but he also worked on lithography, serigraphy and illustrations for such books as Aquilino Ribeiro’s Quando os Lobos Uivam (Livraria Bertrand, 1958) and Vitorino Nemésio’s Andamento Holandês (Imprensa Nacional, 1983). He painted one of the panels at the “A Brasileira do Chiado” café (1971) and participated in the creation of the panel commemorating the 10th of June 1974. In 1985, the Modern Art Centre of Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian presented an anthological exhibition of his work, accompanied by a retrospective of his graphic works and gouaches at the SNBA. In 1990, he received the A.I.C.A – S.E.C. Prize, and in 1996 the Museu do Chiado held a retrospective of portraits (1955-1974).In 2000, the Modern Art Museum of Fundação de Serralves hosted the anthological exhibition “Prospectiva 1966-2000”. In 2005, he was awarded the Amadeo de Souza Cardoso Grand Prize; in 2006, Fundação Arpad Szènes-Vieira da Silva exhibited “Quartos Imaginários”, a series of paintings on the bedrooms and studios of various painters and poets. In 2007, a TV documentary on the whole of his work was produced, and in 2012 the Museu Colecção Berardo presented the anthological exhibition "Presente e Passado, 2012-1950".