Filipa Tojal (b. 1993, Porto) is a visual artist based in Porto, Portugal. She holds a BA in Painting and is currently pursuing a PhD in Fine Arts at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto. From 2016 to 2020, she lived in Japan, where she completed a Master’s in Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts. Since then, she has developed an international artistic career spanning the US, Australia, Europe, and Asia.
Rooted in painting and often extending into installation, Filipa Tojal’s practice approaches painting as an expanded field that moves between the exterior world and the interior of painting itself. At times it welcomes light, landscape and atmosphere; at others it turns towards detail, fragment and the subtle possibilities of gesture.
Her process is grounded in a close attention to materials, the behaviour of pigment and the temporal dimensions of making. Through gradual shifts, overlaps and tonal variations, her works emerge from a dialogue between intention and chance, allowing forms and atmospheres to surface slowly.
Through painting and installation, she explores how colour, matter and gesture can give form to atmospheric and spatial experiences, moving between the exterior world and the interior of painting itself.
She has participated in residencies including No Entulho - Artworks (Portugal), Joya: AiR (Andalusia), Ecotone (Los Angeles), BigCi (Australia), Scope BLN (Berlin), CMIF (Azores), BecomeBecome (Bali), and Carpe Diem (India). Recent solo exhibitions include Fallen Apricots (Beijing, 2024), Visible Transparency, Unclear Opacity (Tokyo, 2024), Ecotone (Los Angeles, 2023), Above the Treetops (Sydney, 2022), Longe (Guimarães, 2022), Unflatten (Berlin, 2021), and Trees All Singing (Porto, 2019). She has also participated in numerous group exhibitions worldwide.
Filipa Tojal is represented in the United States by Sage Culture Gallery (Los Angeles) and in continental Asia by Space of Time Gallery (Beijing).
Rooted in painting and often extending into installation, Filipa Tojal’s practice approaches painting as an expanded field that moves between the exterior world and the interior of painting itself. At times it welcomes light, landscape and atmosphere; at others it turns towards detail, fragment and the subtle possibilities of gesture.
Her process is grounded in a close attention to materials, the behaviour of pigment and the temporal dimensions of making. Through gradual shifts, overlaps and tonal variations, her works emerge from a dialogue between intention and chance, allowing forms and atmospheres to surface slowly.
Through painting and installation, she explores how colour, matter and gesture can give form to atmospheric and spatial experiences, moving between the exterior world and the interior of painting itself.
She has participated in residencies including No Entulho - Artworks (Portugal), Joya: AiR (Andalusia), Ecotone (Los Angeles), BigCi (Australia), Scope BLN (Berlin), CMIF (Azores), BecomeBecome (Bali), and Carpe Diem (India). Recent solo exhibitions include Fallen Apricots (Beijing, 2024), Visible Transparency, Unclear Opacity (Tokyo, 2024), Ecotone (Los Angeles, 2023), Above the Treetops (Sydney, 2022), Longe (Guimarães, 2022), Unflatten (Berlin, 2021), and Trees All Singing (Porto, 2019). She has also participated in numerous group exhibitions worldwide.
Filipa Tojal is represented in the United States by Sage Culture Gallery (Los Angeles) and in continental Asia by Space of Time Gallery (Beijing).
C O N T A C T
tojalfilipa@gmail.com
Contact in the USA
Sage Culture Gallery
Contact in Asia
Space of Time Gallery
N E W S
oBastidor
With Jiôn Kiim, João Pedro Amorim, Sorais Gomes Teixeira
Espaço Agra, Porto - Portugal
9th July 18h-22h
NIVAS
Duo Exhibition with Natsumi Kobayashi
Gallery Crossing - Japan
July 18th - August 2nd
CV
EDUCATION
2025 - Ongoing . PhD in Fine Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts Porto University (FBAUP) Portugal
2020 . Master’s Degree in Painting, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
2016 . Research Student in the Painting Department at Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo – Japan (18 months)
2015 . Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts , Faculty of Fine Arts Porto University (FBAUP) Portugal
2014 . Erasmus Exchange at Middlesex University, London UK - Fine Arts and Printmaking Department (6 months)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 . ter-por-pintura, Área 55, Guimarães, Portugal
2025 . ENTRE SUPERFÍCIES / BETWEEN SURFACES, Escola das Artes da Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Portugal
2024 . FALLEN APRICOTS, Space of Time Gallery, Beijing
2024 . OPAQUE BLUE, Embassy of Portugal in Japan / Tokyo
2024 . VISIBLE TRANSPARENCY . UNCLEAR OPACITY , CIRCLE & HOUSE by Method / Tokyo (Two simultaneous exhibitions)
2023 . ECOTONE , Sage Culture Gallery / Los Angeles - USA (Supported by FLAD)
2023 . TSUBONIWA つぼ庭 , Nidi Gallery / Tokyo 2022 . ABOVE THE TREETOPS, Olsen Gallery Annexe / Sydney - Australia
2022 . LONGE 遥か, CAAA, Guimarães - Portugal
2021 . VERDANT, Sage Culture Gallery / Los Angeles
2021 . MORI , Out to lunch (Window), Galeria Lumíere / Porto
2021 . UNFLATTEN, Scope BLN / Berlin
2020 . ALPENDRE 縁側, Room 502 - Tokyo University of the Arts / Tokyo2019 . ONE’S BOOKS 誰かの本, Veritas Corporation / Tokyo
2019 . VAGUEAR 放浪, Route Books Gallery / Tokyo 2019 . DE MAR A MAR 海から海へ, Hillside Terrace Daikanyama / Tokyo 2019 . Animalidades e outras botânicas: THE TREES ALL SINGING, Casa das Artes / Porto (Sismógrafo) 2018 . SUDDENLY 突然, Kokonoka Gallery ココノカ / Tokyo
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS - Selection
2025 . Viagem Infinita, Instituto Pernambuco, Porto - Portugal2025 . What lies ahead, Museu da Faculdade de Belas Artes do Porto - Portugal
2024 . Natuerlich, Complexo Cultural da Levada de Tomar - Portugal 2024 . Nature Dialogue (Duo Exhibition), Dot Cusp, Hangzhou - China
2023 . Mar - Deserto, Oxímoros para uma ausência, Alfaia / Loulé - Portugal 2024 . A primeira, Interior, Viseu - Portugal
2024 . If not even you, Filet Space, London - UK
2023 . But dearer still is truth, Galeria Plato, Évora - Portugal (Curated in collaboration with Warbling Collective)
2023 . Our vision is clouded, Warbling Collective / London UK
2023 . Pintura sem fim, Brotéria, Lisbon - Portugal
2022 . Summer Salon, Olsen Gallery, Sydney - Australia
2022 . Consciousness, Sage Culture, LA - USA
2022 . There - here. , Duckrabbit Gallery, Sydney - Australia
2022 . Warehouse, The Rocks, Sydney - Australia
2021 . A tiny bit of Fire, Warbling collective / London UK
2020 . Areia preta, Antigo Quartel / Paços de Ferreira , Portugal
2019 . Ars Necessaria, Veritas Corporation / Tokyo
2019 . Konshin Ten, UG Gallery / Tokyo
2019 . The 17th Mitsui Fudosan Management Office Exhibition / Tokyo
2019 . Islands of Conciousness, Bali Purnati Center of the Arts / Bali - Indonesia
2018 . Transient つかの間の, Gallery Wolke / Tokyo
2018 . Diálogos com Amadeo, Galeria Olívia Reis / Espinho, Portugal
2018 . Opening Exhibition Area 55 / Guimarães, Portugal
2017 . Como que pelas mãos guiados , Silo Espaço Cultural / Porto 2017 . Research Students Exhibition, Yuga Gallery - Tokyo Geidai / Tokyo 2016 . Floresta a Oriente, Silo Espaço Cultural / Porto 2016 . Bienal Internacional de Arte Jovem / Vila Verde - Portugal 2016 . Quando se quer gravar / Galeria dos Leões, Porto
2016 . Babel, Galeria Miguel Justino / Lisbon
2015 . Arte Contemporanea, Galeria de Arte do Casino Estoril / Lisbon 2015 . Vê lá se me apanhas, Museu FBAUP / Porto
2015 . Extra Vaza Mente, Palacete Pinto Leite / Porto
2015 . Arte’factos, Casa da Cultura da Seroa / Seroa - Portugal 2015 . Oh Uau!, Fórum Cultural de Ermesinde / Ermesinde - Portugal 2015 . Salão de Primavera – Prémio Rainha Isabel de Bragança, Galeria de Arte do Casino Estoril / Lisbon
2014 . "Ver, Fazer, Pensar, Editar", FBAUP - University of Porto, Portugal
2014 . Final Exhibition, Middlesex University / London UK
2014 . Restricted Space, Cre8 Gallery / London UK 2013 . Cara a cara, Galeria dos Leões / Porto
2009 . Um olhar sobre Júlio Resende, Lugar do Desenho – Fundação Júlio Resende / Gondomar - Portugal
Awards
2023 Grant for Artist Residency in the United States, FLAD - Luso-American Development Foundation
2016 - 2020 . Monbukagakusho Scholarship (Japanese Government Scholarship)
2019 . Ars Necessaria 1st Prize, Veritas Corporation, Tokyo
2015 . 1st Prize at XXVII Salão de Primavera, Galeria de Arte do Casino Estoril, Lisbon 2009 . 2nd Prize – VII Fine Arts National Competition “Um olhar sobre Júlio Resende”, Lugar do Desenho – Fundação Júlio Resende, Gondomar - Portugal
Art Residencies 2025 . No Entulho, Artworks (Póvoa do Varzim - Portugal) -supported by Escola das Artes da Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa2024 . Natuerlich, Complexo Cultural da Levada de Tomar - Portugal 2024 . JOYA.air, Velez Blanco - Spain
2024 . Fallen Apricots, Space of Time Gallery, Beijing - China
2023 . Mar - Deserto, Oxímoros para uma ausência, Alfaia / Loulé - Portugal
2023 . Artist-in-Residency, Sage Culture , Los Angeles - USA
2022 . Studio.4our, Sydney - Australia
2022 . BIG CI (Bilpin international ground for Creative initiatives), Blue Mountains, NSW - Australia
2021 . SCOPE BLN / Berlin - Germany
2020 . CMIF, Furnas São Miguel / Azores- Portugal 2020 . BONFIRE Walk&Talk, Virtual Residency
2019 . BECOME BECOME Nomad Residency /Bali Indonesia 2017 . CARPE DIEM Residency / Rajasthan, India 2014 . IL COLORE COME SOSTANZA, Green and Brown Project / Île d’Ouessant, France
BOOKS AND CATALOGUES
2023 . Subtle Shifts 微かな移ろい, Edited by DOOKS, Japan
2022 . Art Collector Magazine AUS, - “What next?” Section - Australia
2021 .“O Tripeiro” Magazine, cover of January - Portugal
2020 . Portuguese Emerging Art, Emerge - Portugal
2020 . Geidai - The Catalogue of Graduation Works -Fine Arts Master’s Program, Tokyo University of the Arts - Japan 2020 .Myriad Things - Self published book, Tokyo - Japan
2018 . Diálogos com Amadeo Catalogue, Galeria Olívia Reis, Espinho - Portugal
2016 . 9 Bienal Internacional de arte jovem de Vila Verde Catalogue, Biblioteca Municipal Prof. Machado Vilela - Portugal
2015 . Salão de Primavera Prémio Rainha Isabel de Bragança Catalogue, Casino Estoril - Portugal
2015 . Extra vaza mente Exhibition Catalogue, FBAUP & Câmara Municipal do Porto - Portugal
2014 . Ver, Fazer, Pensar, Editar: Projecto Atlas: Gabinete de Desenho e Gravura da FBAUP, Universidade do Porto - Portugal
2019 .Um olhar sobre Júlio Resende, Lugar do Desenho, Gondomar - Portugal
AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS
"Subtle Shifts" 微かな移ろい, Filipa Tojal
21 x 21cm, 52 pages, Soft Cover, Offset Print
Published in April 2023 by DOOKS (JP)
Edition of 200
ISBN 978-4-907934-53-8
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Work︎
EDUCATION
2025 - Ongoing . PhD in Fine Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts Porto University (FBAUP) Portugal
2020 . Master’s Degree in Painting, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan
2016 . Research Student in the Painting Department at Tokyo University of the Arts, Tokyo – Japan (18 months)
2015 . Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts , Faculty of Fine Arts Porto University (FBAUP) Portugal
2014 . Erasmus Exchange at Middlesex University, London UK - Fine Arts and Printmaking Department (6 months)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 . ter-por-pintura, Área 55, Guimarães, Portugal
2025 . ENTRE SUPERFÍCIES / BETWEEN SURFACES, Escola das Artes da Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Portugal
2024 . FALLEN APRICOTS, Space of Time Gallery, Beijing
2024 . OPAQUE BLUE, Embassy of Portugal in Japan / Tokyo
2024 . VISIBLE TRANSPARENCY . UNCLEAR OPACITY , CIRCLE & HOUSE by Method / Tokyo (Two simultaneous exhibitions)
2023 . ECOTONE , Sage Culture Gallery / Los Angeles - USA (Supported by FLAD)
2023 . TSUBONIWA つぼ庭 , Nidi Gallery / Tokyo 2022 . ABOVE THE TREETOPS, Olsen Gallery Annexe / Sydney - Australia
2022 . LONGE 遥か, CAAA, Guimarães - Portugal
2021 . VERDANT, Sage Culture Gallery / Los Angeles
2021 . MORI , Out to lunch (Window), Galeria Lumíere / Porto
2021 . UNFLATTEN, Scope BLN / Berlin
2020 . ALPENDRE 縁側, Room 502 - Tokyo University of the Arts / Tokyo2019 . ONE’S BOOKS 誰かの本, Veritas Corporation / Tokyo
2019 . VAGUEAR 放浪, Route Books Gallery / Tokyo 2019 . DE MAR A MAR 海から海へ, Hillside Terrace Daikanyama / Tokyo 2019 . Animalidades e outras botânicas: THE TREES ALL SINGING, Casa das Artes / Porto (Sismógrafo) 2018 . SUDDENLY 突然, Kokonoka Gallery ココノカ / Tokyo
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS - Selection
2025 . Viagem Infinita, Instituto Pernambuco, Porto - Portugal2025 . What lies ahead, Museu da Faculdade de Belas Artes do Porto - Portugal
2024 . Natuerlich, Complexo Cultural da Levada de Tomar - Portugal 2024 . Nature Dialogue (Duo Exhibition), Dot Cusp, Hangzhou - China
2023 . Mar - Deserto, Oxímoros para uma ausência, Alfaia / Loulé - Portugal 2024 . A primeira, Interior, Viseu - Portugal
2024 . If not even you, Filet Space, London - UK
2023 . But dearer still is truth, Galeria Plato, Évora - Portugal (Curated in collaboration with Warbling Collective)
2023 . Our vision is clouded, Warbling Collective / London UK
2023 . Pintura sem fim, Brotéria, Lisbon - Portugal
2022 . Summer Salon, Olsen Gallery, Sydney - Australia
2022 . Consciousness, Sage Culture, LA - USA
2022 . There - here. , Duckrabbit Gallery, Sydney - Australia
2022 . Warehouse, The Rocks, Sydney - Australia
2021 . A tiny bit of Fire, Warbling collective / London UK
2020 . Areia preta, Antigo Quartel / Paços de Ferreira , Portugal
2019 . Ars Necessaria, Veritas Corporation / Tokyo
2019 . Konshin Ten, UG Gallery / Tokyo
2019 . The 17th Mitsui Fudosan Management Office Exhibition / Tokyo
2019 . Islands of Conciousness, Bali Purnati Center of the Arts / Bali - Indonesia
2018 . Transient つかの間の, Gallery Wolke / Tokyo
2018 . Diálogos com Amadeo, Galeria Olívia Reis / Espinho, Portugal
2018 . Opening Exhibition Area 55 / Guimarães, Portugal
2017 . Como que pelas mãos guiados , Silo Espaço Cultural / Porto 2017 . Research Students Exhibition, Yuga Gallery - Tokyo Geidai / Tokyo 2016 . Floresta a Oriente, Silo Espaço Cultural / Porto 2016 . Bienal Internacional de Arte Jovem / Vila Verde - Portugal 2016 . Quando se quer gravar / Galeria dos Leões, Porto
2016 . Babel, Galeria Miguel Justino / Lisbon
2015 . Arte Contemporanea, Galeria de Arte do Casino Estoril / Lisbon 2015 . Vê lá se me apanhas, Museu FBAUP / Porto
2015 . Extra Vaza Mente, Palacete Pinto Leite / Porto
2015 . Arte’factos, Casa da Cultura da Seroa / Seroa - Portugal 2015 . Oh Uau!, Fórum Cultural de Ermesinde / Ermesinde - Portugal 2015 . Salão de Primavera – Prémio Rainha Isabel de Bragança, Galeria de Arte do Casino Estoril / Lisbon
2014 . "Ver, Fazer, Pensar, Editar", FBAUP - University of Porto, Portugal
2014 . Final Exhibition, Middlesex University / London UK
2014 . Restricted Space, Cre8 Gallery / London UK 2013 . Cara a cara, Galeria dos Leões / Porto
2009 . Um olhar sobre Júlio Resende, Lugar do Desenho – Fundação Júlio Resende / Gondomar - Portugal
Awards
2023 Grant for Artist Residency in the United States, FLAD - Luso-American Development Foundation
2016 - 2020 . Monbukagakusho Scholarship (Japanese Government Scholarship)
2019 . Ars Necessaria 1st Prize, Veritas Corporation, Tokyo
2015 . 1st Prize at XXVII Salão de Primavera, Galeria de Arte do Casino Estoril, Lisbon 2009 . 2nd Prize – VII Fine Arts National Competition “Um olhar sobre Júlio Resende”, Lugar do Desenho – Fundação Júlio Resende, Gondomar - Portugal
Art Residencies 2025 . No Entulho, Artworks (Póvoa do Varzim - Portugal) -supported by Escola das Artes da Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa2024 . Natuerlich, Complexo Cultural da Levada de Tomar - Portugal 2024 . JOYA.air, Velez Blanco - Spain
2024 . Fallen Apricots, Space of Time Gallery, Beijing - China
2023 . Mar - Deserto, Oxímoros para uma ausência, Alfaia / Loulé - Portugal
2023 . Artist-in-Residency, Sage Culture , Los Angeles - USA
2022 . Studio.4our, Sydney - Australia
2022 . BIG CI (Bilpin international ground for Creative initiatives), Blue Mountains, NSW - Australia
2021 . SCOPE BLN / Berlin - Germany
2020 . CMIF, Furnas São Miguel / Azores- Portugal 2020 . BONFIRE Walk&Talk, Virtual Residency
2019 . BECOME BECOME Nomad Residency /Bali Indonesia 2017 . CARPE DIEM Residency / Rajasthan, India 2014 . IL COLORE COME SOSTANZA, Green and Brown Project / Île d’Ouessant, France
BOOKS AND CATALOGUES
2023 . Subtle Shifts 微かな移ろい, Edited by DOOKS, Japan
2022 . Art Collector Magazine AUS, - “What next?” Section - Australia
2021 .“O Tripeiro” Magazine, cover of January - Portugal
2020 . Portuguese Emerging Art, Emerge - Portugal
2020 . Geidai - The Catalogue of Graduation Works -Fine Arts Master’s Program, Tokyo University of the Arts - Japan 2020 .Myriad Things - Self published book, Tokyo - Japan
2018 . Diálogos com Amadeo Catalogue, Galeria Olívia Reis, Espinho - Portugal
2016 . 9 Bienal Internacional de arte jovem de Vila Verde Catalogue, Biblioteca Municipal Prof. Machado Vilela - Portugal
2015 . Salão de Primavera Prémio Rainha Isabel de Bragança Catalogue, Casino Estoril - Portugal
2015 . Extra vaza mente Exhibition Catalogue, FBAUP & Câmara Municipal do Porto - Portugal
2014 . Ver, Fazer, Pensar, Editar: Projecto Atlas: Gabinete de Desenho e Gravura da FBAUP, Universidade do Porto - Portugal
2019 .Um olhar sobre Júlio Resende, Lugar do Desenho, Gondomar - Portugal
AVAILABLE PUBLICATIONS
"Subtle Shifts" 微かな移ろい, Filipa Tojal
21 x 21cm, 52 pages, Soft Cover, Offset Print
Published in April 2023 by DOOKS (JP)
Edition of 200
ISBN 978-4-907934-53-8
Work︎
© Filipa Tojal - All Rights Reserved