The painter Eduardo Batarda, an iconic figure in contemporary art and an inspiration to many generations of artists, has passed away, announced Margarida Balseiro Lopes on social media, extending condolences “to his daughter Beatriz [Batarda] and all family and friends” on behalf of the Government of Portugal.
Eduardo Batarda died today in Lisbon at the age of 81, as announced in a joint statement by the galleries Pedro Oliveira and Miguel Nabinho.
Gallery owner Pedro Oliveira described Eduardo Batarda to Lusa news agency as a significant artist, not only for his generation but also for those that followed, particularly due to his work as a professor at the Porto School of Fine Arts.
Morreu o pintor Eduardo Batarda, figura incontornável da nossa arte contemporânea, inspiração evidente para tantas gerações de artistas. À filha Beatriz e restante família e amigos, envio as minhas condolências em nome do Governo de Portugal.
— Margarida B Lopes (@margaridalopes) September 19, 2025
“He had many students who today are excellent artists, he left a very relevant mark on younger generations, his work was of great importance. In recent years, he worked little because he was already very ill,” said the gallery owner, remarking that Batarda attained the level of “master,” also praising his intellectual capacity beyond visual arts.
Eduardo Manuel Batarda Fernandes was born in Coimbra in 1943 and initially pursued a medical degree in 1960 but left it after three years to study painting at the Higher School of Fine Arts of Lisbon from 1963 to 1968, followed by studies at the Royal College of Art.
He began teaching at the Porto School of Fine Arts in 1976, balancing teaching with an intense and multifaceted artistic practice over the following decades.
His first exhibitions date back to 1966-1968, with the most recent noteworthy one being at the Serralves Museum in Porto, “Eduardo Batarda: Outra Vez Não,” in 2011.
This year, Eduardo Batarda was the “central figure” at the Maia Contemporary Art Biennial.
He was awarded the EDP Foundation Award for Plastic Arts in 2007, the Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso Grand Prize in 2019, and received the Medal of Cultural Merit from the Ministry of Culture in 2020.
