Art Expo:What to Expect at This Year's Biggest Algarve Art Event

Mark Your Calendar: 14-16 November in Silves...

There are huge swaths of my childhood I don’t remember. However, my youngest memory is of me (I am 5 or 6) standing in front of an aisle painting a horse’s head. During my mid-life crisis/career break, I sequestered myself in our garage, creating hand-built ceramic sculptures¹ and reverse abstract paintings on glass.²³ Since moving to Algarve, I have once again begun painting. It is now nearly a daily exercise, and the paintings have piled up. So I am putting on my big girl pants and sharing them with others this fall.⁴

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Cat on a Hot Clay Roof, by Eric Roth

Art Lovers Algarve

But this post is not entirely about me. (I am the most interesting subject to my own mind … Before I get any snarky comments, that was a joke!) It is about a friend, Eric Roth,⁵ who introduced me to a lovely woman, Shelley Foley, who has brought together a group of creative people.

Shelley moved to Algarve in 2017, immigrating from Canada. She and her husband originally intended to maintain two homes, but when in Canada, they longed for the people, culture, and slower pace of my home in Portugal. After settling full-time in Portugal, she set up a studio and, as a collector, got to know many of the artists residing in Algarve. After her husband’s passing in 2024, she decided to turn her attention to marketing and promoting local artists. And thus Art Lovers Algarve was born.

Shelley Foley and her work, by Eric Roth

So far it’s a labour of love, while learning new skills to take advantage of the modern, on-line marketplace. We have grown from struggling to expand to 10 members in the first few months to having over 60 after less than a year with new ones being added each day. — Shelley Foley

Her efforts, which include a billboard near the Mars Shopping Center, a monthly newsletter to 6000 subscribers⁶, and nearly daily posts on Facebook and Instagram, caught the attention of John Gahno, was was managing the Algarve’s biggest annual event, Art Expo Algarve.

This was his 4th year and he wished to concentrate on his other businesses and supporting the artists he represents. As I’m already very busy with ALA, family, friends, 2 dogs, 3 cats, and my own studio, I had to think about it for about 20 minutes, and then said “YES”! — Shelley Foley

Art Expo Algarve

The Art Expo will be held 14-16 November 2025 at the FISSUL Pavilion in Silves. The expo is open from 10:00 to 18:00 and will feature the work of over 50 artists. In addition to the exhibition, the event will offer live music, free demonstrations, a scavenger hunt with prizes, and a silent auction benefitting the local bombeiros.

Talented, professional artists like Vilma Vicente will be showing their work. Born in Portugal, Vilma obtained a Fine Arts degree in Lisbon. She moved to Sagres 8 years ago. An avid surfer and diver, her work is inspired by the peace of the ocean.

Alvor Beach #1 — Karen Wride

Artists such as Karen Wride will be offering prints in the Art Expo’s store along with her original paintings. Karen, originally from Wales, moved to Portugal in 2008 when she “met a guy on the internet and married him”. She attended art school in the UK and worked as a graphic designer for 15 years before immigrating to Algarve.

Automne A Vernon, by Jacques Metairie

Or perhaps you want to be whisked off to the French countryside with an oil painting by Jacques Metairie, who immigrated from France in 2016. A former pilot, he now works to describe truth through color, inspired by the great expressionist colorists of the 20th century and the impressionists of the 19th century.

Pig, by Mickey Craig

Mickey Craig, an American, moved from a Middle Eastern shipyard to Portugal with his Portuguese wife 8 years ago. He has since discovered steampunk art and has discarded his welding skills, instead attaching the pieces with rivets and methods of his own design.

The Ravages of Time, Lotti Klink

Born in Switzerland, Lotti Klink met a woman on a 2012 hiking trip. Whenever she saw a beautiful wall, she said, “Oh, look, that would be wonderful to paint.” Since then, the woman has sent her photos of old walls from her travels around the world. “Last autumn I remembered them and all of a sudden I thought, why not start a new painting project?”

In Defiance of Gravity #2, Joanna Barnes

Joanna Barnes was born in the UK, raised in France, returned to England, and now calls Portugal her home. A ceramist and glass artist, the colors of the Algarve lured her back to Portugal. Her decorative work studies the human form as we desire to strive for perfection.

AAAAA in her Olhão studio

A A A A A is a queer artist working full-time in the Algarve for the past 5 years, creating mixed media paintings from her Olhão studio. Her work explores themes of identity, feminine energy, and spiritual presence, questioning gender and social boundaries with vibrant colors and intimate portraiture.

Freshly Canned Fish, Samantha Ver der Westheizen

Moving to Portugal from South Africa in 2019 allowed Samantha Ver der Westheizen to paint full-time. In addition to acrylic paintings, Samantha paints murals and works as a live wedding artist.

Botanical, Gaby Studer

When I first realized that Gaby Studer’s piece Botanical (above) was cut paper, I was shocked. Migrating from Switzerland in 2024, Gaby said she was always creative but learned the art of paper cutting in 2013.

Nadador-Salvador, by Nancy Whiteman

And finally, one of a series of acrylic paintings on plywood cradle board, inspired by my morning walks on the Vila Real de Santo António beach.

Obrigado por ler até ao fim, tchau

Nanc

1. I had a fascination with goofy houses that had double meanings. My favorite was The Out House, a wonky, tipsy house with the names of gay celebrities carved into the sides.

2. I often used automotive spray paint and did not wear a respirator. My lungs are fine, but this might explain my quirky sense of humor.

3. I did 2 days of consulting a week … but after 3 years, Denise suggested it was time to get a job again. When affordable health insurance is tied to employment, it stifles creativity.

4. We have had my paintings in our homes for years. I have given pieces to friends when they commented on one. But selling my work … and telling people I am selling my work is scary to me. This is all very, very new to me. It takes courage, especially when you don’t have any official training and are participating in a show with real, professional artists. To tell you the absolute truth, I have been struggling to write this post for nearly 4 weeks.

5. I met Eric and his wife Lucille via Zoom in 2021 as they were planning their move to Algarve. Eric is a talented professional photographer who has traveled the world capturing images for fine art, editorial, advertising, and marketing for photography galleries, designers, architects, manufacturers, retailers, craftsmen, and artisans. His photographs are published in numerous national and regional magazines, on a variety of websites, and in books.

6. You can subscribe to ALA’s newsletter here.