Paula Rego | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Maria Paula Figueiroa Rego 26 January 1935 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Died | 8 June 2022 (aged 87) London, England |
| Nationality | Portuguese/British |
| Known for | Painting, printmaking |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3; including Victoria and Nick |
| Awards | Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire Grand Cross of the Order of Saint James of the Sword Grand Officer of the Order of Saint James of the Sword Grand Collar of the Order of Camões |
Dame Maria Paula Figueiroa Rego DBE RA GCSE GOSE GColCa (Portuguese: [ˈpawlɐ ˈʁeɣu]: 26 January 1935 – 8 June 2022) was a Portuguese visual artist, widely considered the pre-eminent woman artist of the late 20th and early 21st century, known particularly for her paintings and prints based on storybooks.[1] Rego's style evolved from abstract towards representational, and she favoured pastels over oils for much of her career. Her work often reflects feminism, coloured by folk-themes from her native Portugal.
Rego studied at the Slade School of Fine Art and was an exhibiting member of The London Group, along with David Hockney and Frank Auerbach. In 1989 she became the second artist-in-residence, after the scheme re-started, at the National Gallery in London, after Jock McFadyen, who was the first in 1981.[2] She lived and worked in London.