PORTO.- The Serralves Foundation, a major cultural institution in Porto, is thrilled to announce the celebration of two important milestones in 2014: the 25th anniversary of the Serralves Foundation, founded in 1989, and the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art in 1999, designed by Portuguese Pritzker prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.

Over the past 25 years, the Serralves Foundation has raised the public’s awareness about contemporary art and how it reflects the current issues of our contemporary societies. The celebration of this double anniversary underlines the intimate relationship that Serralves has forged with audiences from Portugal and around the world. Luís Braga da Cruz, President of the Serralves Foundation, explains “These anniversaries represent a remarkable moment in Serralves’ long history, creating a distinct dialogue between Portuguese artists and their foreign counterparts. We are proud to celebrate Serralves’ status as a key agent in the development of Portuguese culture and as one of the leading institutions in the international art community.”

Several special exhibitions have been planned in honor of the anniversaries:

The three-part exhibition Histories: Works from the Serralves Collection, on view through September 21, includes pieces from the collection by artists such as Danh Vo, Hans Haacke, Richard Serra, Claes Oldenburg, Dan Graham, On Kawara, Amalia Pica, Robert Morris, Sanja Iveković, Liam Gillick, Lucy McKenzie, Walid Raad, and Richard Long. Additionally, the Serralves Park features a new public sculpture commission by Berlin-based artist Nairy Baghramian.

From September 7 to 19, Chicago-based artist and musician Theaster Gates will be in “monastic retreat” with his musical ensemble The Black Monks of Mississippi at the Serralves Museum – the first presentation of Gates’ work in Portugal.

In October, the Serralves Museum will organize the first museum survey of Iranian artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, which will travel to the Guggenheim Museum, New York in March 2015. For more information about Serralves’ exhibitions, please visit: http://www.serralves.pt/en/.

On September 19th, Serralves will also host a fundraising dinner to honor its founders and the fundamental role they have played in Serralves’ history.