Cristina Rodrigues

Cristina Rodrigues is a Portuguese visual artist born in 1980 in Porto. Her academic background includes a PhD in Art and Design from the Manchester School of Art (2016), an M.Phil in Medieval and Renaissance History from the University of Porto (2007), and a degree in Architecture from Lusíada University (2004). Her professional career began as an architect in Porto, later moving to Lisbon and then to the Algarve. In 2009, she emigrated to Manchester, UK, where she worked as a researcher and lecturer at the Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University (2010–2015).
Cristina Rodrigues's artwork has been presented in numerous solo exhibitions in Europe, Asia, and South America. Some of her most recent shows include: Blossom (2023), at AP'ARTE Galeria, in Porto; Stewards (2022), at the Municipal Museum of Caminha; Clamor da Maré Cheia (2021), in the Garden of the National Museum of Archaeology – Jerónimos Monastery, in Lisbon, at the Royal Customs Pier in Vila do Conde, at the Monastery of Santo André de Ancede, in Baião, and next to the Ermesinde Cultural Forum; Travessia (2020), at the Center for Contemporary Culture, in Castelo Branco; The House is the Cathedral of Life (2019), at MATADERO, in Madrid, Spain; The Horizon (2019), at Quinta da Cruz – Center for Contemporary Art, in Viseu; Echoes of the Sea (2018), at The Hillside Forum, in Tokyo, Japan; The Shroud (2017-2018), at MATADERO, in Madrid, Spain; The Kingdom of Heaven (2017), at Manchester Cathedral, United Kingdom; Retrospective (2017), at the Center for Contemporary Culture, in Castelo Branco; The Shroud, at the Colombo Art Biennale 2016, at Colombo Cathedral, in Sri Lanka; and The Passion (2016), an exhibition spread across five of the most iconic monuments in Seville, Spain: Valentín de Madariaga y Oya Foundation, Portugal Pavilion, University of Seville, Casa de la Provincia and the Real Alcázar of Seville.
His works are part of several museum and public entity collections, including Manchester Cathedral and Cheshire East Council, in the United Kingdom; Cultura Madrid (Ayuntamiento de Madrid) and Acción Cultural Española (AC/E), in Spain; the Municipal Museum Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso; and several municipalities in Portugal, such as Cascais, Castelo Branco, Viseu, Vila do Conde, Baião, Valongo and Caminha, in addition to the Portuguese State.
Recently, the work "Memórias do Mar", composed of three installations suspended from the ceiling, was commissioned by the Dutch group VIA Outlets and has been on permanent display at the Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlet since April 2021. Cristina Rodrigues has also created public works for corporate clients, such as Licor Beirão (Grupo J. Carranca Redondo, Lda.), Ferreira de Sá Rugs, FLY London (Grupo Kyaia), Vila do Conde Porto Fashion Outlets (Dutch Group VIA Outlets), ASCENDI, SPV – Sociedade Ponto Verde and COFINA.
Cristina Rodrigues develops imaginary narratives that intertwine her personal story, as a Portuguese woman in a global context, with a fantastical world of symbolism. Her locally inspired art installations achieve universal meaning, leading the contemporary viewer on a transcultural and transtemporal journey.