I am José Simões, a multidisciplinary visual artist and filmmaker. My practice spans sculpture, photography, video, and urban design, exploring everyday life, memory and social dynamics in the city. I work with documentary portraiture and experimental video to map human stories, often collaborating with communities and cultural institutions. I have participated in artistic residencies and international screenings, with works shown in Porto, Barcelona, Lisbon and beyond. My work aims to create accessible, socially engaged art that invites conversation about urban life and how we experience our towns and cities.

José Simões

I am José Simões, a multidisciplinary visual artist and filmmaker. My practice spans sculpture, photography, video, and urban design, exploring everyday life, memory and social dynamics in the city. I work with documentary portraiture and experimental video to map human stories, often collaborating with communities and cultural institutions. I have participated in artistic residencies and international screenings, with works shown in Porto, Barcelona, Lisbon and beyond. My work aims to create accessible, socially engaged art that invites conversation about urban life and how we experience our towns and cities.

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I am José Simões, a multidisciplinary visual artist and filmmaker. My practice spans sculpture, photography, video, and urban design, exploring everyday life, memory and social dynamics in the city. I work with documentary portraiture and experimental video to map human stories, often collaborating with communities and cultural institutions.

I have participated in artistic residencies and international screenings, with works shown in Porto, Barcelona, Lisbon and beyond. My work aims to create accessible, socially engaged art that invites conversation about urban life and how we experience our towns and cities.

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Language

Portuguese
Fluent
English
Advanced

Work Experience

Guest Artist at Aurora Arts Festival
January 1, 2015 - December 31, 2015
Invited to participate in Aurora Arts Festival 2015 by curator Ajan Martin (Zhulong Gallery director) in Dallas, Texas, USA.
Artist in Residence at CHAT ART DRAWING PROJECT / Simpósio de Novas Tecnologias nas Artes
September 23, 2011 - September 24, 2011
Participated in the symposium on the new technologies in the arts at Escola Superior Gallaeccia, Vila Nova de Cerveira (23-24 Sep 2011).
Artist in Residence at ArtIs Den Bosch / Artweek
January 1, 2009 - Present
Residency in ’s-Hertogenbosch, Oisterwijk and Tilburg focusing on art and activism.
Video Director of Photography (DOP) at An Effective and Sustainable Environmental Project
February 19, 2009 - February 24, 2009
DOP for a video arts project focusing on cultural exchange, social inclusion and environmental awareness in Benevento, Italy (19-24 February 2009).

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts (First Degree) – Sculpture at Porto Fine Arts University
January 11, 2030 - February 27, 2026
Master of Urban Design: Art, City, Society at Fine Art University of Barcelona
January 11, 2030 - February 27, 2026

Qualifications

Honours degree in Landscape Photography (mentored by Henrique Carbó)
January 11, 2030 - February 27, 2026
Acquisition Award 2020 – What the Heck (are you doing in my town)
January 1, 2020 - February 27, 2026
Acquisition Award 2015 – Best Work for How the Portuguese eat the White Bread Toast
January 1, 2015 - February 27, 2026

Industry Experience

Education, Non-Profit Organization, Manufacturing
    paper 96000, cameras

    The most common story going around about this man is the one about the camera in the box. It is said that you can disassemble a Leica camera, put all the parts in a box, shake it, and he will reassemble it for you with his eyes closed.
    But there are others about how he fixed a lens with a punch or how he bluntly asks clients not to bring him any ‘toys’ to fix. He will not hesitate to criticize your poor camera choice and will lecture you about your dirty lens. The more difficult the task you bring him, the faster he’ll get it done. Even faster if he likes you, although we’re not really sure what will make him like you, except maybe bringing in a good Pentax camera your first time visiting his shop.
    If you’re into analog photography and you live in Porto, you’ll know who Adriano is. If you don’t, the shop where you left your camera to be fixed, does.
    96000 is the number of cameras that have passed through is workshop. That’s also the number of stories he has in him to tell.

    Alice Bernardo