photography by Francisco Ornelas
Valéria Martins is a Portuguese artist based in Brussels, working across performance, moving image, sound and installation. Her practice explores image as a political and affective territory through feminist narratives and autofiction, engaging with themes such as structural violence, collective resistance, memory and trauma.
Alongside artist Carla Gomes, she develops a collaborative practice grounded in feminist perspectives and collective experimentation. Their recent works and performances have been presented in venues and festivals in Portugal and Belgium, including Rua das Gaivotas 6 and Botanic Tower.
Martins is currently attending the MA in Arts at LUCA School of Arts and holds a BA in Visual Arts – Photography from Escola Superior Artística do Porto. Since 2025, she has been an associated artist at Visões Úteis.
CONTACTS
valeriamacedomartins@gmail.com
(+351) 918 077 126
(+351) 918 077 126
Studies
2024 - ongoing
MA, Arts
Luca School of Arts, BE
2020-2023
BA, Visual Arts - Photography,
Escola Superior Artística do Porto, PT
2017-2019
Professional Photography Course,
Instituto Português de Fotografia, PT
AFFILIATIONS
2025- ongoing
Visões Úteis
Associated artist w/ Carla Gomes
Artistic Residencies & Projects
2023-2025
Credited Research Internship
Archive and Mediation: from Teófilo's Douro to Contemporary Artistic Practice, Porto, PT
2026
Participant as collective w/ Carla Gomes
Rua das Gaivotas 6, Lisbon, PT2025
Participant as collective w/ Carla Gomes
Artistic Residency, O Espaço do Tempo, Montemor-o-Novo, PT2024
Participant of the Workshop From I to You, from WE to US by Roberta Miss
Luca School of Arts, Brussels, BE
2024
Participant as collective w/ Carla Gomes
Artist Residency, Artists' Shelter with the support of Sekoia- Performing Arts, Porto, PT
2021-2023
Participant of the collective PING!
Gallery Incursion Program, Galeria Municipal do Porto, PT
2023
Participant of the Artistic Residency O Douro dos Fotógrafos
Casa da Imagem, Vila Nova de Gaia, PT
2023
Participant of the program Erasmus+ | Blended Intensive Programmes
Performing in Public Spaces, Girona, ES
2021
Participant of the seminar - Rerouting Capital w/ Erica Love & João Enxuto
Escola Superior Artística do Porto, PT
2019
Participant of the program Erasmus+ | Youth Exchange "Shoot!"
Connected for Future, Lozen, BG
Exhibitions and presentations
2026 — passenger side
Collective exhibition, 289 Faro Cultural Association, Faro, PT
Presented work: Video, agora a sério // now for real
2026 — Futuras Coisas / Premiere
Show presented with co-creator Carla Gomes, Rua das Gaivotas 6, Lisbon, PT
2026 — tree in the yard
Collective exhibition, Former Atoma Factory, Brussels, BE
Presented work: Installation, look mean, but deep down, don't be mean
2026 — Performance Procissão Sonora
Opening of collective exhibition tree in the yard, Former Atoma Factory, Brussels, BE
2025 — Performance Procissão Sonora
Perímetro Festival, Visões Úteis, Porto, PT
2025 — Performance ARENA w/ Carla Gomes
Opening MA Photography Exhibition, Botanic Tower, Brussels, BE
2025 — Will Our Paths Cross On The Surface
Collective exhibition, Botanic Tower, Brussels, BE
Presented work: Installation CLASH! Don't hurt me baby
2024 — Mostra Nacional Jovens Criadores
Collective exhibition, Museu de Lamas, Santa Maria da Feira, PT
Presented work: PANGEA
2024 — The Future is Ours, Ideas Festival
Collective exhibition, Full Circle Brussels, BE
Presented work: Video, agora a sério // now for real
2023 — Árvore das Virtudes 2023 3rd Edition
Collective exhibition, ÁRVORE, Porto, PT
Presented work: Sculpture, The Allegory Became Immortalized
2023 — Dupla Exposição
Collective exhibition, Casa da Imagem, Vila Nova de Gaia, PT
Presented work: Engravings, SUCALCOS
2022 — Bas-Bleu
Installation, Ermo do Caos, Porto, PT
2021 — Crises
Collective exhibition, Galeria de Exposições Tinturaria, Covilhã and Casa das Associações, Porto, PT
Presented work: Photographic series, Untitled
Publications & Features
2025 — Rota N 222
Centro de Estudos Arnaldo Araújo da CESAP Editions PT
Featured project SOCALCOS
2024 — CONTRAST III: A Fotografia no Ensino Superior,
Scorpio Editions PT
Featured project agora a sério // now for real
2024 — Prémio das Virtudes
Árvore Editions PT
Featured project The Allegory Became Immortalized