The exhibition runs from Tuesday, December 9 to Friday, December 12 at the São Sebastião parish council building, offering visitors a rare glimpse into the life and imagination of a man considered by many to be one of the region’s most unique creative voices.
For Susana Sousa, Rui Carvalho’s widow, this exhibition is not just a tribute, but a call to ensure his work lives on. “Rui was an artist who created everything from scratch, purely from his imagination,” she says. “He should be recognised. He may be gone, but he left behind pieces that deserve to be admired. He must be remembered for his work and for who he was.”
Born in 1974 in Sá da Bandeira, Angola, Rui Carvalho’s life took a dramatic turn at the age of four when he contracted polio amid his family’s escape from the Angolan War of Independence. The illness left him paraplegic but never slowed his creativity. Instead, his physical condition became the backdrop to a story of relentless imagination. Over the years, he produced thousands of artworks, mastering countless materials and techniques.
In interviews, Rui described himself as a creator who worked “every material that can be worked,” from glass, cork, and acrylic to wood and metal. His portfolio ranged from Tiffany-style stained glass and artistic furniture to charcoal portraits, sculptures, restorations, and even custom trophies. Each piece, he insisted, was handcrafted with patience and care: “Nothing is made industrially or in series. Each piece has its own time.”
Rui often said that what drove him wasn’t fame or financial reward, but the joy of waking up with a new idea to explore: “I like going to bed thinking about what I’ll make tomorrow. I simply like to dream.”
He also dreamed of contributing more visibly to the Algarve’s artistic life, imagining a space where local artists could work live, in full view of residents and tourists – “a place,” he said, “where the public could see creativity happening in real time.”
For now, the community has the chance to celebrate him through this exhibition, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with free entry.
