ColaborArte Silves
ColaborArte opened it's doors in December 2021. The project was inspired by Manoli Ortiz Della Torre, Co-founder of COLETIVO 28 in Loulé which successfully opened a shop close to Loulé Municipal Market several years ago, joining four different artists/artisans. We want to welcome you to our 100 square metre store in the centre of Silves. A space dedicated to creativity and joy.
We are located at Rua Mouzinho de Albuquerque 8300-172 Silves, Algarve, Portugal. Why not pay us a visit, we'd love to see you. Or simply get in touch with us!
Who we are
We are Magarida Palma Gomes, Picotacto, MBarion, Manoli Ortiz De La Torre & Abacate Fashion, a collaboration of five artists residing in the Algarve. We offer high quality products, one of a kind, handcrafted pieces..
• MARGARDIA PALMA GOMES
Margarida Gomes was born in Mozambique in 1962 and from a young age she fell in love with the art of ceramics. She went to the Lagoa Handicraft School in 1987 and studied painting and pottery at the CENCAL Training Center – in Caldas da Rainha, for two years (1988 and 1989). Over the years, she attended several ceramics workshops with Francis Behets and learned Raku ceramics with Erich Haerberling. In 1992, she co- founded the studio “Roda Viva”, Cerâmica Artística e Design, Lda. and in 2016 the studio “Laranja Mágica/Magic Orange. Her awards include: 1st National Prize for Creative Craftsmanship, by the Algarve Regional Delegation and by the F.I.A (Lisbon) with the piece “O Cântaro”. 1st Prize Modern Craftsmanship Award – Algarve Regional selection, at the F.I.A, in Lisbon with the piece “Abraço ao mestre Fernando Rodrigues”
Her highly imaginative work reflects the love and passion for what she does. She creates imaginary worlds and figures that take us into dreamworlds wanting us to be children again. They spread joy and happiness and include a lot of details that leave us amazed and amused and make us deeply admire the incredible delicacy of her work.
• PICOTACTO
Patricia Marques, is the artist behind the Picotacto project. She has a degree in Architecture and comes from a family of artisans, dedicated to basketry. She always wanted to preserve ancestral traditions and arts. She combines different techniques and materials in her textile jewellery, accessories and decoration. Her pieces impress with their simplicity and the harmonious choice of colours. Her unique design respects the raw materials used and combines them in a perfect way. She mainly works with cotton, linen, leather and brass to create exquisite necklaces and bracelets, bags and wallets. Her work is of timeless elegance and suits all ages and different styles of fashion
• MBARION
Inspired by her family (and particuarly by her grandfather who graduated as a sculptor from the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich,) Marion/MBarion, has been attracted to the arts since she was a young child. She always loved fulfilling her creativity by experimenting and using unconventional methods. During University, where she studied law, she had several exhibitions in Germany. She used fabric colour on rice paper or a combination of acrylic, watercolours and chalk on thin cotton. During her time as partner in a law office, she supervised the gallery “S2” in the centre of Munich, together with her colleagues. There, she exhibited the works of artists like François Cacheux. After moving to Portugal, she established the Cultural Center “ARTE e ALEGRIA”, presenting music and art. Artists featured included the well known sculptor Martine Vaugel and painter and sculptor Zé Luis Costa. Later on she initiated the Festival “Obrigado Portugal” that took place four times at the beautiful Sítio das Fortes near Estômbar. The Festival included music, arts and handicrafts and was dedicated to the Portuguese people as a “Thank You” for their warm welcome to the foreign community. Due to the Pandemic, several lockdowns and many restrictions concerning social activities, it was not possible to plan any further events without risk. Marion then decided to pick up the arts again and started decorative works, by using free hand paper cuts. She believes that ColaborArte is the perfect opportunity for people to join creative forces and to offer works to people who are interested in unique handmade pieces.
• MANOLI ORTIZ DE LA TORRE
Born in 1968 in Belgium, of Spanish nationality. In 1982 she attended one of the best schools of Fine Arts in Brussels, where she obtained a diploma in Fine Arts. In her last years in Brussels, she worked for the Cultural Center of the Flemish Ministry. She has lived with her husband since 2001 at his grandparent's house, in the village of Penina, located in the heart of the Rocha da Pena nature reserve, north of Loulé, in the Algarve.
• ABACATE FASHION
Abacate Fashion is Elke’s Label for her imaginative and colourful collection. Her passion are high quality natural fabrics, like silk, linen and cotton. She combines inventive design with elements that stand out, like over dimensional pockets or shawl collars, unusual bottoms and other applications. Her fashion is elegant, casual and comfortable at the same time. It is flattering for all women, taking in consideration that they all have differently shaped bodies. She loves to mix colours without overdoing it while respecting the harmony and she adores knitting. She produces beautiful shawls, funny socks and hats and creates precious, lovely toys. She also quilts the most amazing blankets, tablecloths and wall decorations and she is specialist in felting. Elke’s dedication for her work started when she, as a mother of two boys, began to make outfits and cuddly toy animals for her little sons. Discovering her talent, she passed it on to friends and she stopped buying presents but started making them herself. Elke decided to become part of ColaborArte as she felt, that is was time to show her creations more publicly.
Want to join our team?
We are ColaborArteSilves, a collaboration of five artists residing in the Algarve. Are you interested in joining the Colaborarte family? We are looking for professional, enthusiastic, creative individuals to join our team. Paintings, sculptures, clothing, jewellery, handmade products and all kinds of original artworks are welcome. If you would like to learn more, please contact us.