About
Artur Leão, born in 1997, is a visual artist based in Porto. He started working as a designer for scopio Editions, where he developed a special care for the art of visual storytelling and bookmaking. Since then, his focus has been on developing photographic projects that reveal his inner process of imaginative transmutation while searching for archaeological sites, pristine landscapes and people connected to the rural world in his ancestral land. In his work, connections between poetry, mythology, and religion arise through a gaze that mirrors the language of nature in its incomprehensible complexity and reconditeness. He consistently captures scenarios where he perceives potential for channeling a mystical dimension onto the surface of the image.
Education
Master’s degree in Visual Arts. Artistic Practices and Research at Escola Superior Artística do Porto (2021).
Group Shows
Artdoc Magazine, The Expressive Eye, Online Exhibition (2025)
Duality, Ephemere Photo Fest, Gallery Conceal Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan (2025)
Static Cinema, Art-Icon, CREA, Venice, Italy (2025)
RITUALS, LoosenArt, Millepiani, Rome, Italy (2025)
Artdoc Magazine, The Meditative Lens: Patterns of Stillness & Monochrome Silence, Online Exhibition (2025)
Fresh Eyes Talents, Haute Photographie, Rotterdam, Netherlands (2025)
Imperfect Poetry, Float Magazine, Online Exhibition (2024)
You’re Innocent in Your Dreams, ZERO art space, Tokyo, Japan (2024)
ImageNation, Galerie Joseph Le Palais, Paris, France (2024)
Fresh Eyes Talents, Haute Photographie, Rotterdam, Netherlands (2024)
The Landscape Voices, Exhibition Pavilion FBAUP, Porto, Portugal (2023)
Visual Spaces of Change, Ci.CLO Photography Biennale, Porto, Portugal (2019)
Do Not Touch Fresh Paint!, Espaço MIRA, Porto, Portugal (2018)
Screenings
SUMMER showcase, Mutant Radio, Tbilisi, Georgia (2023)
International Conference On the Surface, MAAT, Lisbon Portugal (2019)
Playlist #25, Café Candelabro, Porto, Portugal (2018)
Press and Features
Dodho Magazine (2025)
Planted Journal (2025)
Arxipelag (2025)
FIGURES (2025)
Perimetro (2025)
Umbigo (2024)
Zerofeedback (2023)
Landscape Stories (2023)
Loud (2022)
Publications
Tropical Stoemp, Editions Le Mulet (2025)
Duality, ephemere (2025)
Borders and Boundaries, FIGURES (2025)
5×7 Photobook, Artsin Square (2025)
Fresh Eyes International, GUP Magazine (2025)
MOON, DITO Publishing (2024)
3rd Collective Book, Zone Magazine (2024)
Fresh Eyes International, GUP Magazine (2024)
Familiar Strangers, ephemere (2024)
Imperfect Poetry, Float Magazine (2024)
Fendas Intemporais, scopio Editions (2021)
Grants and Awards
Foto Slovo Award, Fine Art (2025), Honorable Mention
Life Framer, Planet Earth (2025), Editors’ Pick
Foto Slovo Award, Trip/Essay (2024), Honorable Mention
IPE 166 (2024), Shortlist
Residencies
DÍNAMO gallery (2024)
Imersão na Paisagem, Caminhar, Parar, Reparar (2019)
Curation
Luis Ferreira Alves Photography Award,, Antiga Casa da Câmara, Porto, Portugal (2025)
Contrast III: Alteridade, Ausência e Origem, Portuguese Center of Photography, Porto, Portugal (2024)
Comissions
Quinta de Baixo Room, The Yeatman Hotel for Niepoort, Porto, Portugal (2018)
Online Content Manager/Editor
Luis Ferreira Alves Photography Award
scopio Editions
Contrast
sophia journal
scopio magazine
Book Layout/Design
Luis Ferreira Alves Photography Award 2025, scopio Editions (2025)
Acropolis Paths by Mark Durden and João Leal, scopio Editions (2025)
Sophia Journal Vol. 9, No. 1, scopio Editions (2023)
Contrast III, scopio Editions (2024)
Da Publicação da Alma Humana. Histórias, U. Porto Press (2024)
Sophia Journal Vol. 8, No. 1, scopio Editions (2023)
San Cataldo Cemitery by Mark Durden and João Leal, scopio Editions (2022)
Brion Memorial by Mark Durden and João Leal, scopio Editions (2022)
The Idea of Álvaro Siza: Ocean Swimming Pool by Mark Durden and João Leal, scopio Editions (2022)
Another Approach on the Works of Álvaro Siza, scopio Editions (2022)
Sophia Journal, Vol. 7, No. 1, scopio Editions (2022)
Contrast II, scopio Editions (2022)
Inclusão/Reclusão, Guilherme Macedo, Luís Ferreira Alves (2019)
Exhibition Design
Luis Ferreira Alves Photography Award, Antiga Casa da Câmara, Porto, Portugal (2025)
Contrast III at Portuguese Center of Photography, Porto, Portugal (2024)
A mudança é eterna. Nada muda Nunca, Building of the Old Port Authority of Aveiro, Portugal (2024)
Contrast II at Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Portugal (2024)
Contrast II at Casa das Artes, Porto, Portugal (2023)
Contrast II at Galeria Cozinha, Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto, Portugal (2022)
Contrast II at Portuguese Center of Photography, Porto, Portugal (2022)
Visual Identity
Luis Ferreira Alves Photography Award (2025)
Coleção Lições, U. Porto Press (2024)
Element’U, Camilo Rebelo Architect (2022)
Website Design
Luis Ferreira Alves Photography Award (2025)
Merchandise
Benthik Zone, Eidolon (2022)
Posters
A mudança é eterna. Nada muda Nunca (2024)
Niepoort, Portas Abertas Party (2019)
Catalogs
A mudança é eterna. Nada muda Nunca (2024)