
Miguel Basto
Portuguese | 2006 | Based in Lisbon, Portugal
Artist Statement
Miguel Basto (2005, Portugal) is a visual artist whose practice engages with the interplay between the human body, urban space, and material transformation. His work explores the ways in which bodies navigate, occupy, and respond to their surroundings, examining the tensions and rhythms that emerge from these interactions.
Central to his practice is the reuse of urban waste and found objects, materials that bear the marks of their past functions and histories. By collecting, assembling, and recontextualizing these elements, he constructs layered compositions that challenge conventional notions of permanence, authorship, and value. His approach balances spontaneity with structure, allowing the inherent characteristics of the materials to inform the final form of his works.
In recent projects, Miguel has investigated the aesthetics of movement and composition through sculptural and installation-based interventions. By integrating discarded materials into his practice, he not only reclaims physical remnants of the urban landscape but also engages in a broader conversation about cycles of consumption, obsolescence, and renewal.
His work has been exhibited in various group shows, utilizing sculpture and mixed media to reflect on the evolving relationship between people and their built environments. Through his practice, he seeks to reveal the overlooked poetics of everyday materials, transforming what is discarded into new visual narratives that speak to the fluid and ever-changing nature of contemporary urban life.
Featured Works
A curated selection by Miguel Basto

Movement study
Metal sheet • -1

Metal study
Metal • -1

Spacial study
Wood and acrylic paint • -1

Mataduro
keys • -1

Memory
Ceramics • -1

The construction worker lunch
cardboard, acrylic paint,and terracotta, • -1

Walking path performance
Terracotta • -1

Target practice
Installation • -1

Walking path performance
Terracotta • -1

Metal study
Metal • -1

Spacial study
Wood and acrylic paint • -1

Mataduro
keys • -1
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