{"author":"Jan Brennenstuhl","categories":["Art Shows"],"cover":{"alt":"Pedro Matos: Portrait or Urban Reality?","height":840,"src":"https://www.urbanartcore.com/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-reality.jpg","width":1880},"credit":"","date":"2010-06-08T10:03:22Z","description":"With his most recent solo-exhibition in Lisbon, Portuguese urban artist Pedro Matos will probably earn a lot of fame in the international art world. Here are some first photos...","html":"\u003cp\u003eAs you maybe know, Portuguese artist \u003cstrong\u003ePedro Matos\u003c/strong\u003e opened \u003ca href=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality-show/\"\u003ehis solo-exhibition\u003c/a\u003e called “Reality Show” four days ago in Lisbon. Today he sent in some first photos from the opening evening at Montana Shop \u0026amp; Gallery\u0026hellip;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn my eyes, Pedro’s style is really mad! I love these dirty backgrounds and the highly detailed portraits in the foreground. It’s a very special combination of quick spray-painting and marker techniques on the one hand and traditional oil and acrylic painting techniques on the other hand.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut that mixture raises a question: Portrait or Urban Reality? Are Pedro Matos’ artworks more street influenced or \u003cem\u003ejust\u003c/em\u003e contemporary fine art? I don’t know whether it’s important to make a difference, but it was the first that came into my mind when I cast an eye on the exhibition photos. I should ask him, but I actually know the answer, because his blog is called \u003ca href=\"http://thisisnotaportrait.blogspot.com/2010/06/reality-show-opening.html\"\u003e“this is not a portrait”\u003c/a\u003e!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd know take a look at Pedro Matos’ urban \u003cem\u003eReality Show\u003c/em\u003e\u0026hellip;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfigure class=\"archive-figure historical-figure\"\u003e\u003cpicture style=\"--image-width: 2600px; --image-ratio: 2600 / 1740\" data-source-width=\"2600\" data-source-height=\"1740\" data-width-cap=\"1440\" data-height-cap=\"1740\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"image/avif\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_7c11d79e96867bb5.avif 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_272644a9a8d32537.avif 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_3e446f421b6cd37f.avif 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\"\u003e\n  \u003csource type=\"image/webp\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_63406ed31815b755.webp 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_968262a188eeea90.webp 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_d4e652dc66c83850.webp 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\"\u003e\n  \u003cimg src=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_4f9b17be631c6c1f.jpg\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_72c3021b1bc421ca.jpg 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_d74b88768034f625.jpg 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show_hu_4f9b17be631c6c1f.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\" width=\"1440\" height=\"964\" alt=\"pedro matos - reality show\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\u003e\n\u003c/picture\u003e\u003cfigcaption\u003epedro matos - reality show\u003c/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c/figure\u003e\n \u003cfigure class=\"archive-figure historical-figure\"\u003e\u003cpicture style=\"--image-width: 2600px; --image-ratio: 2600 / 1740\" data-source-width=\"2600\" data-source-height=\"1740\" data-width-cap=\"1440\" data-height-cap=\"1740\"\u003e\n   \u003csource type=\"image/avif\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_be8cd8b4d09e3fbb.avif 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_25f582f275f54c19.avif 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_cf7cfee9349f1cd1.avif 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\"\u003e\n   \u003csource type=\"image/webp\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_8ae6934346a9b429.webp 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_6200c8cb65e5adc.webp 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_f1e7387776c4e5b1.webp 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\"\u003e\n   \u003cimg src=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_2c47e2e4336b0bc6.jpg\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_bcd16826630fee0a.jpg 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_5f76c10f9634fde4.jpg 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show_hu_2c47e2e4336b0bc6.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\" width=\"1440\" height=\"964\" alt=\"pedro matos - urban art show\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\u003e\n \u003c/picture\u003e\u003cfigcaption\u003epedro matos - urban art show\u003c/figcaption\u003e\n \u003c/figure\u003e\n \u003cfigure class=\"archive-figure historical-figure\"\u003e\u003cpicture style=\"--image-width: 2600px; --image-ratio: 2600 / 1740\" data-source-width=\"2600\" data-source-height=\"1740\" data-width-cap=\"1440\" data-height-cap=\"1740\"\u003e\n   \u003csource type=\"image/avif\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_8b7a79eb1057e005.avif 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_4e70e209cf2b2e33.avif 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_5101197e60bec466.avif 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\"\u003e\n   \u003csource type=\"image/webp\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_fa1b7f601378a21f.webp 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_337338fb2deb31b2.webp 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_ddd53f998eaa5a8d.webp 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\"\u003e\n   \u003cimg src=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_b8bd0495b973c769.jpg\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_4c9f5253058dec8d.jpg 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_835a205ca91b6575.jpg 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend_hu_b8bd0495b973c769.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\" width=\"1440\" height=\"964\" alt=\"pedro and friend\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\u003e\n \u003c/picture\u003e\u003cfigcaption\u003epedro and friend\u003c/figcaption\u003e\n \u003c/figure\u003e\n \u003cfigure class=\"archive-figure historical-figure\"\u003e\u003cpicture style=\"--image-width: 2600px; --image-ratio: 2600 / 1732\" data-source-width=\"2600\" data-source-height=\"1732\" data-width-cap=\"1440\" data-height-cap=\"1732\"\u003e\n   \u003csource type=\"image/avif\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_bb350caeca5db478.avif 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_324f87a496d960a3.avif 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_eba862df8eb6fea1.avif 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\"\u003e\n   \u003csource type=\"image/webp\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_af42548ff5a14d62.webp 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_4eac25210c4b9d74.webp 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_815a79d627dcd51c.webp 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\"\u003e\n   \u003cimg src=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_c316f8670741c45c.jpg\" srcset=\"/pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_fa9cf5e05e4192f1.jpg 480w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_7bf68717d3b17723.jpg 960w, /pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4_hu_c316f8670741c45c.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) calc(100vw - 36px), min(960px, calc(100vw - 96px))\" width=\"1440\" height=\"959\" alt=\"pedro matos artwork\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\u003e\n \u003c/picture\u003e\u003cfigcaption\u003epedro matos artwork\u003c/figcaption\u003e\n \u003c/figure\u003e\n\nBy the way, \u003ca href=\"http://www.stick2target.com/reality-show\"\u003ea birdie whispered to me\u003c/a\u003e that the show is already sold out!\u003c/p\u003e\n","markdown":"\n\n\n\nAs you maybe know, Portuguese artist **Pedro Matos** opened [his solo-exhibition](/pedro-matos-urban-reality-show/) called “Reality Show” four days ago in Lisbon. Today he sent in some first photos from the opening evening at Montana Shop \u0026 Gallery...\n\nIn my eyes, Pedro’s style is really mad! I love these dirty backgrounds and the highly detailed portraits in the foreground. It’s a very special combination of quick spray-painting and marker techniques on the one hand and traditional oil and acrylic painting techniques on the other hand.\n\nBut that mixture raises a question: Portrait or Urban Reality? Are Pedro Matos’ artworks more street influenced or *just* contemporary fine art? I don’t know whether it’s important to make a difference, but it was the first that came into my mind when I cast an eye on the exhibition photos. I should ask him, but I actually know the answer, because his blog is called [“this is not a portrait”](http://thisisnotaportrait.blogspot.com/2010/06/reality-show-opening.html)!\n\nAnd know take a look at Pedro Matos’ urban *Reality Show*...\n\n![pedro matos - reality show](\u003chttps://www.urbanartcore.com/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-reality-show.jpg\u003e)\n\npedro matos - reality show ![pedro matos - urban art show](\u003chttps://www.urbanartcore.com/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-matos-urban-art-show.jpg\u003e)\n\npedro matos - urban art show ![pedro and friend](\u003chttps://www.urbanartcore.com/pedro-matos-urban-reality/pedro-and-friend.jpg\u003e)\n\npedro and friend ![pedro matos artwork](\u003chttps://www.urbanartcore.com/pedro-matos-urban-reality/target4.jpg\u003e)\n\npedro matos artwork \nBy the way, [a birdie whispered to me](http://www.stick2target.com/reality-show) that the show is already sold out!\n","tags":["Portraiture","Pedro Matos","European Urban Art","Art Exhibition","Art Photography"],"title":"Pedro Matos: Portrait or Urban Reality?","url":"https://www.urbanartcore.com/pedro-matos-urban-reality/"}