Biography
Ricardo Cruzes was born in France. He graduated in Painting and Communication Design from ARCA-EUAC (Coimbra 93-98), where he was a student of Armando Azevedo, João Dixo, and António Modesto. He soon became an entrepreneur, and co-founder of the companies Design ao Vivo and Moonshapes, working in the conception, management, and production of creative projects covering the multi-disciplines of design. Clients such as J. Walter Thompson, Banco Santander, Instituto Português de Museus, BP – British Petroleum, Montez Champalimaud, among others, form part of his portfolio.
Guest speaker by the National Museum of Archeology within the framework of the implementation of the Museum website developed by his company and awarded by UNESCO (1st international place – Museums and Heritage category). Selected for the Lisbon Challenge program (Beta-i), with the Feedcruncher product (500+ applications, 20+ countries). He is co-founder of the software/startup Proppy CRM, recently rebranded to Casafari CRM by merger/acquisition by the multinational Casafari.
In 2018 he is a founding member of the association Algarve Evolution – Algarve Tech Hub.
Intensification of artistic activity since 2008 with public demonstrations from 2009. Resident artist at LAC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas, in Lagos, where he has been working as a full-time visual artist since April 2021. Ricardo is Co-Curator of the itinerant exhibitions that LAC makes every year, with resident artists and collection works.
He is a co-author of the project Cruzes + Vargas = 3 (Portugal <> Kuwait), with Rui Vargas.
He is a co-author of the project Hyperactive Memory Ruins (Portugal <> <> Norway), with Joel Arantes.
2023
– Collective exhibition, “Open Day” at LAC, Laboratório de Actividades Criativas – Lagos;
– Exhibition by Ricardo Cruzes + Rui Vargas, “Sand Constructions” at Gama Rama Gallery – Faro;
– Collective exhibition “Ponto de Fuga” at Gallery 289 – Faro (participation and co-curatorship);
– Selection for the Magellan Project implemented by Museu Zero and financed by Instituto Lusíada de Cultura-ILC. Rotation/planned exhibitions between Portugal and Spain. Curated by Luís Fernandes (artistic director of gnration, Braga);
– Exhibition by Ricardo Cruzes + Rui Vargas, “Cidade Indómita” at A Sede Gallery – Porto;
– Ricardo Cruzes + Rui Vargas, “Beyond Architecture” – group exhibition and Maracujália event, at Casa da Arquitetura – Matosinhos: Ana Aragão, Corpo Atelier, Cruzes + Vargas, experimental +, Fala, Francisco Costa, Mafalda Mendonça, Maria Souto Moura, Miguel Gomes + Mariana Lopes, Nuno Pimenta, Nuno M. Sousa, Pedro Gramacho..;
2022
– Selection for Compostival 2022, in Peniche, with the piece “Fake Blonde Creature”. Exhibition curated by Inês Ferreira-Norman;
– Group exhibition PRALAC (LAC Resident Artists) + Collection at Galeria 289, Faro;
– Solo exhibition “Today’s Days”, at the Chasing Rabbits gallery, in Campo de Ourique, Lisbon;
– Exhibition “The Sum of the Parts” in the scope of the project/duo “Cruzes + Vargas = 3”, at LAC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas;
– Collective exhibition “Arrhythmias”, PRALAC (LAC Resident Artists) + Collection at “A Sede” Gallery, in Porto;
– Group exhibition “Contenders”, PRALAC (LAC Resident Artists) + Collection at “The Hood” pop up gallery, in Amadora, Lisbon;
– Ruins of Hyperactive Memory, co-authored with Joel Arantes (Portugal <> Norway), activation of the Sítio do Tonel ruins (Sagres);
– Exhibition Cruzes + Vargas, at Gama Rama Gallery, as part of Open Studios Faro;
– Collective exhibition “UIVO” at Fórum da Maia – Porto.
2021
– Start of residency at LAC, with Rui Vargas. Cross Creation + Vargas = 3;
– Beginning of the residency at Galeria Gama Rama in Faro, with Rui Vargas;
– Participation in Open Studios Faro 2021;
– Children’s workshop at Gama Rama Gallery in Faro – “Cruzes + Vargas and other children”.
