Gulbenkian Foundation receives archive of Salette Tavares
Poet, art critic, performer, and teacher, Salette Tavares (1922-1994) is regarded as one of the most significant figures in the Portuguese cultural and artistic scene of the second half of the 20th century.
Her archive, now donated to the Foundation, includes printed material, mostly consisting of the author’s publications, exhibition catalogues and brochures, press clippings, as well as books on philosophy and aesthetics, history, and art theory. It also includes varied correspondence – with family, friends, art critics, and artists in her close circle – long with studies, drawings, typed poems, and final artworks for several works, including the piece Bailia, which is part of the CAM collection.
The documentation will now be preserved at the Foundation’s Art Library, which already holds 75 titles – books, exhibition catalogues, and articles – authored by Salette Tavares or dedicated to her work.
Salette Tavares participated in the Portuguese experimental poetry movement, developed an extensive teaching career, was a member of IAAC (International Association of Art Critics), and was involved in various artistic movements of the 1960s and 1970s.
The documents reflect her intense activity and the network of friendships she established with other artists, such as Paula Rego and Menez, allowing for a deeper understanding of the art scene in Portugal during that period, particularly regarding the artistic creation of women artists.
The documentation will soon undergo archival processing and conservation by the Art Library team and will be made available for public consultation shortly.