Born in Portugal (Évora, 1981), Rita Vargas is a professional visual artist, visual arts teacher and a doctor of philosophy in Art History, with expertise on Artists-in-Residence and Contemporary Art. Vargas has lived and worked as a professional artist in Japan, Germany, U.K. and Azores Islands.
Besides curating activities, Vargas delivers also courses, seminars and talks at different Universities, Art Museums in Finland and abroad. Vargas is living and working in Finland for about 13 years and moved from Jyväskylä, where she worked as a freelance artist in Ratamo Printmaking and Photography Centre to Helsinki in 2019, in order to open a printmaking studio.
Vargas is working mainly with printmaking media, light, art installations, and stone sculpture, however, if there is some time left, also curates and writes about interesting art by artists from around the world, with special focus on Japanese, Portuguese, Swedish, Norwegian and Finnish culture.
CV
MATIAS, Rita Vargas de Freitas
b. 1981, in Évora, Portugal.
Academic Education
2010 – 2016 – Ph.D. Art History, Dpt. of Music, Art and Culture Studies, University of Jyväskylä, FIN.
2001 – 2006 – Master of Fine Arts (Sculpture) and Artistic Education, University of Évora, PT.
2004 – 2005 – Erasmus Program in Winchester School of Arts, University of Southampton, UK.
Upcoming exhibitions
2022/2023
– Apokalypsis, Makers Gallery, Vaasa, FIN.
– Museet for Religiøs Kunst, Lemvig, DK.
– Vejle Kunstmuseum, Vejle, DK.
– Kastrupgaard Samlingen, Copenhagen, DK. /or Nordatlantens Brygge, Copenhagen, DK.
Solo Exhibitions
2022 – Turning Point, Bar 10 Gallery, Helsinki, FIN.
2021 – Torn, Myymälä2 Gallery, Project Room, Helsinki, FIN.
– Omenan Syytä, Café Bar9 Gallery, Helsinki, FIN.
– Affection Adrift, Galleria Becker, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2020 – The Artist of the Month, Galleria Becker, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2019 – A Room with a View, Rõõm Gallery, Helsinki, FIN.
– Porto de Abrigo / Learning Curve, Grupo Pro-Évora, Évora, PT.
2018 – The Artist of the Month, Galleria Becker, Jyväskylä, FIN.
– Solo, Vegan Coffee and Beans venue, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2017 – The Lure of the Contemporary, Kunst Kiosk, Hamburg, DE.
– Solo, Vegan Coffee and beans venue, Jyväskylä, FIN.
– Lines of Displacement, Jade Gallery, Helsinki, FIN.
2016 – 2019 – Yläkaupungin Yö Festival, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2014 – La Raison du Plaisir, Galleria Becker, FIN.
2012 – Love Jungle, Galleria Gloria, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2010 – BANG BANG, Kunst Kiosk, Hamburg, DE.
– BANG BANG, Villa Magdalena K., Hamburg, DE.
– Teardrops, Grupo Pro-Évora, Évora, PT.
– Teardrops, Galleria Hoppa, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2009 –Still Close, Ilokivi, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2008 – Nishiaizu International Art Village (NIAV), Shingo, JP.
2007 – Private View, Gallery Space S, Tokyo, JP.
2006 – Espaços Íntimos, Galeria 21, Évora, PT.
Joint Exhibitions
2022 – BOOKED 2022, Galleria Muu, Helsinki, FIN.
– Meri, Malmitalon Galleria, Helsinki Artists Association with Estonian Painters Association, Helsinki, FIN.
– Mail Art, B-Galleria, Turku, FIN.
2021 – Kanakorianteri, Café Bar9 Gallery, Helsinki, FIN.
– Teosvälitys, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, FIN
– International Festival of Manuports, Galleria Kohta, Helsinki, FIN.
– Amália Rodrigues, Galeria António Prates, Lisbon, PT.
2020 – 2084 by Catalysti Transcultural artists, curated by Anne Klontz, Cable Factory, Helsinki, FIN.
– Rakkaus, Galleria Tavastia, Jyväskylä, FIN.
– Teosvälitys, Cable Factory, Helsinki, FIN.
– Ornamon Teosmyynti, Cable Factory, Helsinki, FIN.
– Arising, (with Yoko Yono) Fundação Serralves, Porto, PT.
2019 – 40 em 100 – A Colecção do Grupo Pro – Évora, Galeria da Casa de Burgos, PT.
– Vernissage, Vargas Print Studio, FIN.
– Connecting Provincial Workshops and International Printmakers, Galleria Ratamo, FIN.
– Ornamon Teosmyynti, Helsinki, FIN.
– Teosvälitys, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki, FIN.
2018 – Connecting Provincial Workshops and International Printmakers, Härnösand Konsthall, SE.
– Connecting Provincial Workshops and International Printmakers, CAT Art Gallery, PT.
– Mobile Nordic, Centre of Photography, Galleria Ratamo, FIN.
– Printmakers from Ratamo, Galleria Joella, Turku, FIN.
– WAH We Are Here, Centro de Arte e Cultura, Fundação Eugénio de Almeida, Évora, PT.
2017 – Suomi Tänään, Taidekeskus Järvilinna, Vihtavuori, FIN.
– Virkamiehen Uni, Jyväskylän Taiteilijaseura, Punnosen talo, Keuruu, FIN.
– Maailman Kylässä, Helsinki, FIN.
– Jyväskylä Design Tori, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2016 – (Art director) Print Up Gallery, Jyväskylä, FIN.
– 71th anniversary of Jyväskylä’s Artists Association, Museum of Central Finland.
– Muutos, Jyväskylän Taiteilijaseura, Vaajakosken Wanha Woimala, FIN.
– Bridges Finland, University of Jyväskylä, FIN.
– Mitä Kaikea! Galleria Patina, Jyväskylä, FIN.
– Rytmikorjaamo Designsunnuntai, Seinäjoki, FIN, 2016.
2015 – Connections North, International Printmaking Project, Ratamo Printmaking and Photography Centre (Finland), Algarden Printmaking Centre (Sweden), Highland Print Studio (Scotland).
– Taidehankitoja Ksshp, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2014 – Hilpeä ja Huoleton, Galleria Patina, FIN.
2013 – O Tempo e o Modo, Museum of Évora, PT.
– Ihmiselämä, Galleria Artika, Helsinki, FIN.
– Global Print, Douro, PT.
– PopUp, Galleria Artika, Helsinki, FIN.
– Artists and Founders of Printmaking Workshop (OBS), Casa das Artes de Tavira (CAT), PT.
– Portas Abertas, Fórum Eugénio de Almeida (Contemporary Art Museum), Évora, PT.
– Periferi, Contemporary Art Museum, Säärijärvi, FIN.
– PopUp, Galleria Hopa, Jyväskylä, FIN.
2010 – 2013 – 9th – 12th Lessedra World Art Print Annual, Lessedra Gallery&Contemporary Art Projects, Sofia, Bulgary.
2012 – 2018 – Teosvälitys, Contemporary Art Museum of Jyväskylä, FIN.
2012 – 2014 – 6th & 7th International Printmaking Biennial of Douro (by invitation), Alijó, PT.
2012 – Graphica Creativa, Taidetta. Haittaakse? Höyry Galleria, Korpilahti, FIN.
– What Remains, Galleria Nunes, Helsinki, FIN.
2005 – 2011 – Iniciatixa X, Galeria Artecontempo, Lisbon, PT.
2011 – Gravadores dos Leões, Palácio D. Manuel, Évora, PT.
– Kuriositeettien Kabinetti, Galleria Broms, Helsinki, FIN.
– What Remains, Palácio D. Manuel, Évora, PT.
– Multicoloured Dreams, Street Art Peace Project, Helsinki, FIN.
– Os Gravadores de Tavira, OBS, Casa das Artes de Tavira (C.A.T), PT.
– V/VII Printmaking Festival, Évora, PT.
– Siirtolapuutarha, Höyry-Galleria, Korpilahti, FIN.
2010 – Arjen Taide, Art Forum, 65th Jyväskylän Taiteilijaseura, Jyväskylä, FIN.
– Taitenpaikka, Fund Raising Exhibition, University of Jyväskylä, FIN.
– Jyväskylä Artists Association – 65 Years, Central Finland Museum, FIN.
– Video-Performance, Festival Escrita na Paisagem, Évora, PT.
– 5th International Biennial of Arts, Sesimbra, PT.
– Keski-Suomen Valokuvataiteen 9, Luovan Valokuvauksen Keskus, Galleria Harmonia, FIN.
– Camisa: Area DOS3DOS José de Ibarra, Barcelona, ES.
2008 – Artists-in-Residence, PT Embassy, Camões Institute, Tokyo, JP.
2007 – Public Art in 4th Satoyama Art exhibition, Toyomi, Niigata Prefecture, JP.
– Design Festa, Tokyo, JP.
– Nishiaizu International Art Village & Gallery Space S, Tokyo, JP.
– Évora Printmaking Association, Galeria 21, Évora, PT.
2005 – XIII International Art Exhibition Vila Nova de Cerveira, PT.
2003 – Museu do Esquecimento, Fine Arts National Society (SNBA), Lisbon, PT.
ARTISTIC RESIDENCIES
2022 – Institutum Romanum Finlandiae, Villa Lante al Gianicolo artistic residency, Rome, IT. 3–16.10.22.
– By invitation, Platform rf artistic residency, Vaasa, FIN. 7. – 13.3.2022.
2021 – By invitation, Saari Summer Well of residency researchers at the Saari Residence, FIN. 18 – 22 .8.2021.
2010/2019 – By invitation, Pó-de-Vir a Ser Association, Department of Stone Sculpture, Évora, PT. (2 months)
2010 – Villa Magdalena K., Werkstattprojekt, Hamburg, DE. (2 months)
2007 – 2008 – Nishiaizu International Art Village (NIAV) in collaboration with Camões Institute/Cultural Centre of Tokyo, JP. (1 Year)
GRANTS / PRIZES
2023 – TAIKE, Arts Promotion Finland, Korona Grant (1 year), FIN.
2022 – TAIKE, Arts Promotion Finland, Korona Grant (2 months), FIN.
2021 – TAIKE, Arts Promotion Finland, Korona Grant (3 months), FIN.
– TAIKE, Arts Promotion Finland, Project Grant (2 months), FIN.
– Honourable Mention (Amália Rodrigues Prize), António Prates Gallery, Lisbon, PT.
2020 – TAIKE, Arts Promotion Finland, Korona Grant (2 months), FIN.
2019 – Swedish – Finnish Foundation, Project grant, SE – FIN.
2018 – Arts Promotion Central Finland, Project grant (1 month), FIN.
2017 – Nordisk Kulturfond, Handmade project, DK.
2011 – 2015 – Ph.D. Research Grant from the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), PT.
– 1st Prize from Multicoloured Dreams, Street Art Peace Project, Helsinki, FIN.
2009 – 2010 – International Traineeship at Jyväskylä Centre for Printmaking (FIN), in partnership with INOV– Art
Program, an initiative from Direcção-Geral das Artes, Ministry of Culture (PT).
2007 – 2008 – Nishiaizu International Art Village (NIAV), Nishiaizu/Shingo, in collaboration with
Camões Institute/Cultural Centre of Tokyo, JP. (1 year)
2004 – 2005 – Merit Scholarship, University of Évora, PT.
2004 – Erasmus Scholarship Program at Winchester School of Arts, University of Southampton, UK.
2002 – 2004 – Merit Scholarship by the University of Évora, PT.
VOLUNTEERING & COMMISSIONS OF TRUST
National Representative of Finnish Printmakers Association, FIN. 2022 –.
Member of the exhibition committee at Finnish Printmakers Association, FIN. 2021 – 2022.
Member of the Finnish Printmakers Association, FIN. 2018 – .
Member of People of Print, UK. 2020 – 2022.
Volunteer, Art Fair Suomi, Galleria Muu, FIN. 2019 – 2021.
Member of Catalysti Transcultural artists Association, FIN. 2019 – .
Member of Muu’s Artists Association, FIN. 2019 – 2022.
Member of Helsinki Artists Association, FIN. 2019 – .
Member of Ornamo Finnish Designers Association, FIN. 2018 – 2020.
Member of Luovan valokuvauksen keskus ry, FIN. 2018 – .
Founder associate OBS (Printmaking Workshop – Oficina Bartolomeu dos Santos), PT. 2016 – .
Member of the Jyväskylä Artists Association, FIN. 2011 – .
PUBLICATIONS
Scientific Books (monographs)
Matias, Rita Vargas de Freitas. 2016. International Artists-in-Residence 1990-2010. Mobility,
Technology and Identity in Everyday Art Practices. Jyväskylä: Jyväskylän Ylipisto. Doctoral dissertation.
(https://jyx.jyu.fi/dspace/handle/123456789/52174)
Publications intended for professional communities
– Abstract Book, 2014. Cross Roads, Conference in Cultural Studies. (Eds.) Meri Kytö, University of Tampere, School of Communication, Media and Theatre, Association for Cultural Studies, p. 17 (https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3508880/Abstract_book_ALL2406.pdf)
– Abstract Book, 2014. Tahiti 6 – The National Conference of Art History in Finland. Cultural environment: Concepts, means, concreteness. (Eds.) Society for Art History in Finland, Department of Art and Culture Studies, and Master Program of “Cultural Environment”, University of Jyväskylä, p. 21-22. (https://www.jyu.fi/hum/laitokset/taiku/tahiti6/Abstracts)
– Abstract Book, 2015. International Transdisciplinary Conference on Culture and Sustainability – Culture(s) in Sustainable Futures: Theories, practices, policies. Organized by the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of Jyväskylä and COST (European cooperation in Science and Technology), Helsinki. p.166. (http://www.culturalsustainability.eu/final-conference/Reflections_2.pdf)
Invited researcher and illustrator to collaborate in the following publications:
Scientific books (Monograph)
– Leandro, Sandra. Joaquim de Vasconcelos (1849-1936): Historiador, Crítico de Arte e Museólogo. Lisboa: Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, 2008. Vol. I 459p.; vol. II 1342p. Doctoral dissertation. No vol. I. Illustration of Rita Vargas de Freitas Matias, p. 376, according with the description of Industrial and Commercial Museum of the city of Porto, Portugal.
– Candeias, Adelinda A. – Prova Cognitiva de Inteligência Social. Lisboa: CEGOC, 2007. Doctoral Dissertation. (Awarded) (Illustrations)
Publications intended for professional communities
– Leandro, Sandra (coord.) – Seminários de Estudos de Arte: Estados da Forma I. Évora: Edições Eu é que sei; Centro de História da Arte e Investigação Artística, 2007. ISBN 9789899558434. Pag. 75. (Transcription and assistance of Seminars)
– Vélez Cea, Manuel & Delgado, José J. Cañas (2012) Photography as Art in Tieteidenvälisyys ja Rajanylitykset Taidehistoriassa, Annika Waenerbergin Juhlakirja, The Society for Art History in Finland, Studies in Art History 44, p. 161-177. ISBN: 978-952-5533-16-3. http://granum.uta.fi/granum/kirjanTiedot.php?tuote_id=23190 (Translation of the article from Spanish to English)
Public Artistic Activity (Publications)
– Matias, Rita. 2016. Brigdes Finland 2016, University of Jyväskylä, Art Exhibition Catalog. (Eds.) Conan Chadbourne, Robert Fathauer, Katie McCallum, and Nathan Selikoff. p. 145.
– International Printmaking Biennial of Douro 2014, Nuno Canelas (Eds.), Douro, Portugal.
– Global Print 2013, International Printmaking Exhibition, Nuno Canelas (Eds.), Douro, Portugal, p. 104.
– Galleria Nunes, What Remains, Ex-Votos; coord. Rita Vargas. Évora, Portugal: Galleria Nunes, Helsinki, FIN, 2012.
– Lessedra Gallery&Contemporary Art Projects- 9th, 10th and 12th Lessedra World Art Print Annual, Mini Print; coord. Georgi Kolev. Sofia, Bulgaria: Contemporary Bulgarian and International Art.
– Câmara Municipal de Évora, Divisão de Assuntos Culturais – What Remains, Ex-Votos; coord. Rita Vargas. Évora, Portugal: Palácio D. Manuel, CME, Depart. de Comunicação e Relações Externas, 2011.
– Jyväskylä Taiteilijaseura Ry, Galleria Becker ja Taidelainaamo – Jyväskylän taiteilijaseura – 65 vuotta. Jyväskylä: Jyväskylä Taiteilijaseura Ry, 2010.
– Teoartis, Associação de Actividades Artísticas e Culturais – V Edição do Festival Internacional de Gravura / 5th Edition of the International Printmaking Festival; coord. Teodolinda Pascoal. Évora, Portugal: Teoartis, 2007. Dep. Legal: 112 887/97, p. 154.
– Grupo Pro-Évora – Teardrops; coord. Rita Vargas. Évora, Portugal: Grupo Pro-Évora, 2010.
– Câmara Municipal de Sesimbra, Casa das Artes de Sesimbra, Associação de Artistas – Sesimbra Art Spaces 2010, Bienal Internacional de Artes Plásticas; coord. Carlos Bajouca. Sesimbra, Portugal, 2010. ISBN: 978-972-9150-91-3. Pag. 17.
– Vargas, Rita. (2011) The Lisbon Stores (2011/12), [Versão Electrónica]. The Lisbon Stores, Design. Retrieved from URL http://www.thelisbonstores.blogspot.com/2011/12/rita-vargas.html 28-12-2011.
– VARGAS, Rita. Art and Design (2011/8) featuring Multicolored Dreams in Helsinki, Beijing, China. P. 78-81.
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