Berlin wouldn’t be the melting pot brimming with inspiration that we love if it wasn’t for the international influences from expats that never cease to shape the city with their artistic vision. The time has come to highlight the creative masterminds in the Portuguese community in Berlin. Get ready to meet a diverse crew of uninhibited artists – photographers, writers, digital illustrators, musicians – who aren’t afraid to experiment and venture beyond the conventions. By the way, we’ve asked around and got the top recommendations on where to get Portuguese wine and their famous Pastel de Nata – make sure you scroll to the bottom!
Creative People
Rita Lino
Rita Lino, hailing from Olhão in the south of Portugal, is a successful young photographer who’s reshaping the conventional concept of nudity with her highly aesthetic yet often bold imagery. She is the author of two photography books: All the Lovers, which was published in 2012 and Entartete from 2015 which documents the years of Rita’s artistic study of her own body. Her most recent project is the zine Kingdom.
photo: Rita Lino
Pedro Marum
Pedro Marum is an internationally recognized artist and DJ based in Berlin. The general focus of his work is the relationship between digital technologies and gender, queer as well as feminist politics. No wonder that with such a broad set of intellectual stimuli, Pedro Marum is quite a prolific artist: in his country of origin, among other projects, he created an art collective called Rabbit Hole and has in many ways contributed to Queer Lisboa – International Queer Festival. As a DJ, he is the initiator, booker and resident of mina, a ”techno party for gender and sexual liberation”, which has collaborated with Berlin’s Room 4 Resistance.
photo: João Viegas
Adriana Molder
Adriana Molder is a Lisbon native and graduated the Lisbon Theatre and Film School in stage design. Later, she studied Fine Arts at Ar.Co – Arts and Visual Communication Centre in Lisbon. Her hallmark is India ink drawing on tracing paper, a technique which enables her to create quite arresting portraits. Adriana’s work has been appreciated internationally – suffice it to mention her residencies at Künstlerhaus Bethanien and at the Budapest Galeria. In 2007, she was awarded with the Herbert Zapp Prize (Herbert Zapp Preis für Junge Kunst) in Berlin.
Adriana Molder, Noir IV, photo: Thomas Bruns
Carlos Bica
Carlos Bica has definitely earned his status as one of the most internationally acclaimed Portuguese contemporary musicians. This Berlin-based double bass player and composer studied at Academia dos Amadores de Musica in Lisbon and the Hochschule für Musik in Würzburg. In Berlin, he often performs together with his jazz band Carlos Bica & Azul. Their last album, More Than This from 2017, features the guitarist Frank Möbus and the drummer Jim Black.
photo: Luís Ramos
Joana Lucas
Joana Lucas is a Berlin-based artist who studied Painting at the University of Lisbon. Over the years, she received multiple grants and had numerous solo exhibitions in Lisbon. She’s also a household name on the international arena, with solo shows in Germany and China. Her work has been featured in multiple group shows and three publications.
artwork: Joana Lucas
JEPE
JEPE is an up and coming DJ with Portuguese roots that you’ll want to watch out for. He initially started at Johnwaynes, and later on came to work with such labels as Engrave Ltd, Endless, Biotop, Blossom Kollektiv. JEPE is regularly appearing at parties both in Berlin and abroad. Chances are you’ve already heard him at Tresor or Sisyphos. Stay tuned for his future releases at Moodmusic, Jackoff and Connaisseur.
photo: André Dinis Carrilho
Marta Leite
The Portuguese Marta Leite is a contemporary artist who graduated in Sculpture and New Media from the Universität der Künste in Berlin. Her works have been exhibited regularly since 2006. In Berlin, where she now lives and works, you might have stumbled upon her imaginative creations at Altes Finanzamt, another vacant space, or Temporäre Kunsthalle.
Marta Leite, FRAU NESTKOPF, photo: Catarina Laranjeiro
André Uerba
This Lisbon native has been enriching Berlin’s art scene in a multitude of ways. André Uerba’s work includes a variety of mediums, such as video, installation and photography. He’s had several own performance art projects as well as plenty of collaborations. His art is recognized internationally, and he traveled for work to several countries, including Poland, Iceland, Belgium, Estonia, or Switzerland.
“Terrarium” by André Uerba, photo: Bruno Simao
Bruno Pinta da Cruz
We have already featured this super talented Berlin-based digital illustrator on our blog. Bruno Pinto da Cruz is the creative mind behind ISOMATIC, a series of architectural drawings, where he reimagines well-known parts of Berlin urban landscape like Kotti or Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche as fantastic wonderlands.
illustration: Bruno Pinto Da Cruz
Gonçalo Sena
Gonçalo Sena studied communication design at the Fine Arts School of Lisbon. His work focuses on the relationship between sculpture and architecture. It has been exhibited in solo shows in several countries, including Germany, Portugal, Spain and France. He completed multiple art residencies, including one at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine, US. The artist also co-founded the publishing collective ATLAS Projectos.
Gonçalo Sena, Praia Falha, photo: Bruno Lopes
Diogo Passarinho
Ever since his arrival to Berlin in 2011, the architect Diogo Passarinho has been contributing his skills to a variety of creative projects. A great example of his artistry is the recent collaboration with Laure Prouvost, where Diogo created scenography for the show at the Palais de Tokyo, aiming to build a surreal secret garden inside a contemporary art museum. Another current project is his current Exhibition Architecture for the Baltic Triennial 13. Don’t forget to check out the product design company Pretty Something that Diogo co-founded in 2017.
Projects
Lenin is Still Around
When the Portuguese Carlos Gomes came from Portugal to Germany, he was quite astonished by the number of Lenin sculptures that were still located in often completely random spots all over the former part of the USSR. That’s how he embarked on the rather ambitious quest of documenting the remnants of the Lenin’s legacy. Over the years, he created a detailed database of Lenin figures that are still left on the German territory, and at the same time started a project that combines urban exploring with a little time travel and sociopolitical reflection. Find out more on his website.
photo: Carlos Gomes
Das Apartment
Reinaldo Pinto Almeida is the Portuguese director behind the funny web series ”Das Apartment” which depicts the everyday life of a multicultural Berlin flatshare. Originally from Lisbon, Reinaldo has been in Berlin for almost 10 years now. Back in Portugal he studied Philosophy. While he was studying at the Film University, he met friends that would later become crew members on ”Das Apartment”. He met most of the actors for the project while doing improv in English. Right now, Reinaldo is working on the third season of ”Das Apartment” and a bunch of documentaries.
photo: David Oliveira
The Black Cheetahs
Before moving to Berlin 8 years ago, Jack Wendy studied jazz and theatre in Lisbon and was subsequently working as an actor and contributing to multiple music projects. It was in Berlin that he met up with Sofia TK and together they formed The Black Cheetahs – a dark rock band mixing elements of the dark rock’n’roll from the late 60’s and 70’s and post-modern sounding machines. In 2016, they have published an EP ”Gold Gold Gold” and are currently working on their first album release.
photo: Dragana Gavrilovic
Shorthand for Distance
The folk duo Shorthand for Distance was co-founded by the Portuguese Didio Pestana in 2011. Didio himself has been in Berlin for almost 12 years. Apart from playing in his second band, Tochapestana and working as a sound engineer for a multitude of creative projects (including some videos by Marta Leite), Didio is just finishing his first feature film called ”SOBRE TUDO SOBRE NADA” that will be screened at the Locarno Film Festival.
photo: Inês G. Ferreira
Food & Drinks
BOM aus Portugal
A cozy shop serving best Portuguese wine in town and other gastronomic specialties including pastel de nata, empada, or bacalhau. Very friendly owners that are always ready to chat about their products and give recommendations. Conveniently located in Kreuzberg.
BOM aus Portugal, Friesenstr. 7, Berlin – Kreuzberg
photo: BOM aus Portugal
7 Mares
The concept for 7 Mares celebrates the perfect match between wine and art. So you can always come by to try some very good wine, but also get the creative juices flowing by getting exposed to art as 7 Mares has regular exhibitions of Portuguese and international artists.
7 Mares, Heimstr. 3, Berlin – Kreuzberg
photo: Liz Soto Rivas
Lisboa Bar am Boxi
Whenever you’re in Friedrichshain and suddenly feel a hunger for some Portuguese snacks, head over to the Lisboa Bar! They have authentic Portuguese dishes and tapas for when you just want to grab a quick bite. To complete the creation of the unique Portuguese vibe, there’s some Fado music playing in the background.
Lisboa Bar am Boxi, Krossener Str. 20, Berlin – Friedrichshain
photo: Lisboa Bar am Boxi
A-Telha
This Portuguese restaurant in Wilmersdorf serves traditional Portuguese specialties, including tapas, Paella, different kinds of fish and a big selection of meat. You shouldn’t miss the chance to try their stockfish!
A-Telha, Holsteinische Straße 17, Berlin – Charlottenburg
photo: A-Telha
Pastel
Pastel is a Kreuzberg cafe offering the most delicious Portuguese pastries including galão and tosta mista. The name of the place comes from pastel de nata – very traditional egg tart pastries, which you can get here with a variety of fillings. Don’t forget to try their coffee!
Pastel, Wrangelstr. 44, 10997 Berlin – Kreuzberg
photo: Claudia Kahnt
Pastel & Bekarei
All the delicious pastries at Pastel are supplied by Bekarei. This baking company is a made in Berlin success story, founded by the Portuguese Paula and her Greek husband George, who have both been living in the city for over 20 years. Today, they can boast multiple locations all over town, with their delicacies also being available at Markthalle 9. They even offer catering!
Cafe Bekarei, Dunckerstraße 23, 10437 Berlin – Prenzlauer Berg
photo: Bekarei
