Dozens of artists from across the globe are currently showcasing their work in Olhão as part of the Open Art Exhibition, a collective show running at República 14 until March 29.
The exhibition brings together 86 artists of different nationalities, ages and artistic backgrounds, creating a diverse display of styles, techniques and visual languages. Each piece offers a “unique look at the world” which together “build a living space where diversity becomes dialogue and art becomes common ground”.
Organisers describe the exhibition as more than just a collective showcase, but also as an “invitation for visitors to pause, observe and engage with the creative energy” present within the community.
The show is hosted at República 14, a cultural space housed in a historic 19th-century building in the centre of Olhão. Originally built as a family residence by the Counts of Alte, the eclectic romantic-style building is considered architecturally unique in the town and was constructed using the Pombaline cage anti-seismic system developed in Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake.
After falling into disrepair in the early 2000s, the building was revived in 2017 by a group of local citizens who founded the República 14 Cultural Association, transforming it into a community cultural venue.
The exhibition is open Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm to 8pm, and entry is free.
