The highly acclaimed art collection belonging to prominent Portuguese collector José “Joe” Berardo, which was seized by the state in 2019, is set to take center stage in a new contemporary art museum scheduled to open its doors in Lisbon this October, according to exclusive information obtained by Artnet News.
The Berardo Collection, amassed by the prominent business magnate, will form a pivotal part of the inaugural exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu de Arte Contemporânea/Centro Cultural de Belém), set to open on October 28, as confirmed by Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB).
The seizure of the Berardo Collection occurred after the collector was unable to repay lenders who were owed over $1 billion in debt collateralized by the valuable artworks. The collection includes an array of masterpieces by renowned artists such as Picasso, Joan Miró, Piet Mondrian, Gerhard Richter, and Francis Bacon.
The Museum of Contemporary Art will debut with a comprehensive presentation of various collections, including the Berardo Collection, the Ellipse Collection, and the Teixeira de Freitas Collection. Additionally, a solo exhibition featuring works by Belgian artist Berlinde de Bruyckere will be on display. The new museum aims to foster dialogue and appreciation for diverse artistic journeys and contemporary practices while creating a connection between the past and present.
The Centro Cultural de Belém, encompassing over 1 million square feet, serves as Lisbon’s primary cultural hub, offering a broad range of arts and cultural programs across multiple disciplines and hosting conferences. The Museum of Contemporary Art’s establishment marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the CCB, strengthening its role as a nexus for visual arts, architecture, and performing arts.
The Berardo Collection had been pledged as collateral for loans from Portuguese banks, and its seizure was a result of Berardo’s financial woes. While the Ellipse Collection was incorporated into the state’s art collection, the status of the Berardo Collection remains legally ambiguous, with Berardo still recognized as the owner pending a court decision.
This groundbreaking initiative was initially proposed by Pedro Adão e Silva, Portugal’s minister of culture, and was undertaken by the foundation overseeing the Centro Cultural de Belém. Despite legal challenges and confiscations, the museum has remained accessible to the public.
As the anticipation builds for the unveiling of the Museum of Contemporary Art and its transformative impact on Lisbon’s art scene, the Berardo Collection’s imminent presence continues to fuel discussions around art ownership, restitution, and the intricate interplay between culture and legality.