LUSO COLLECTIVE: CURATED ENCOUNTERS WITH PORTUGUESE CREATIVITY
“We believe [Luso Collective] has grown from an objective, experience-based exhibition to a cultural platform”
Luso Collective unites some of Portugal’s most visionary creatives under the curatorial eye of Further Ther, and builds memorable, sensory experiences that embrace raw materials, experimentation, and local culture and craft. After encountering their impressive debut at Lisbon Design Week in 2024, De La Espada proudly supported their follow-up exhibition in 2025 as part of our ongoing mission to aid projects aligned with our values. Whilst preparing for this year’s Lisbon Design Week, Luso Collective founders Natasza Grzeskiewicz and Tomás Fernandes kindly took the time to share insights from their journey with us.
With the unique sensibility they express through Further Ther, Natasza and Tomás thoughtfully curate Luso, where art, design, and craft are in dialogue against the backdrop of a shared cultural history. Powerfully evocative, every Luso Collective exhibition has its own concept, venue, and roster of creatives, telling stories through objects, lighting, and theatrical scenography. Ever-evolving based on the contributions of its participants, the collective’s journey and overall narrative is shaped by Natasza and Tomás.
“We're most of the time inclined to find complementary practices where the objects can live in contrast, in a balancing-act, but also personality. This curation is very intuitively driven by us two; we strive to connect firsthand and understand each one's input,” they explain.
At Lisbon Design Week in 2025, Luso presented Perception & Matter, celebrating the power of materiality and the intersection of design and fine art. Objects were placed throughout the quiet, raw environs of a basement, giving each its own visual moment, with natural spotlights and candles illuminating the otherwise dark space. The exhibition focussed on the tension between function and artistic vision, and how materials inform our emotional response to objects. It was a symphony of creative voices with contributions from Zoé Wolker, Sofia de Francesco, Rosana Sousa, Violaine D’Harcourt, MACHEIA, João Xará, AB+AC Architects, Nikolas Miranda, Miguel Saboya, Studio Joana Vilaça and Further Ther. De La Espada’s support was meaningful for the young collective as, “More than anything, [it meant] honour and respect. Our self-made initiative had a chance to grow and expand with such a great partnership and support,” share the founders.
Natasza and Tomás see the collective as “a dialogue of parts, evolving with time and space.” They continue:
“We praised debuts, new ideas coming to life in each edition, and funnily, many times, while preparing the sets and curation, we're surprised by objects that we have not seen before. Although somehow, it seems the energy always tends to fill up the room and the result is between the non-expected and the balance of each member. Their contribution is what makes everything possible.”
After two successful exhibitions at Lisbon Design Week, Luso took their unique vision to this year’s Collectible Brussels, a leading showcase of global collectible design.
“Becoming international really means a lot to us, and also to the members which came through, to be able to present what is happening in the local scene and how it responds to the current times,” share Natasza and Tomás.
Luso Collective will also return to Lisbon Design Week this year, swapping the richly textured basement space for the soaring interior of the 18th century church Basilica da Estrela, and its baroque and neoclassical design influences.
“From its first show to this moment in time, we believe [Luso Collective] has grown from an objective, experience-based exhibition to a cultural platform, aiming at not only curated events, but also at historic backdrops. This year’s iteration, named Integrity of Form, is precisely this: how can we showcase Portugal-based collectible design within this cultural backdrop while focusing on object outputs and experimentation which enhance this identity. It's about the past versus present, the relationship and interpretation of the place and time,” share the Luso founders.
Luso is an exciting addition to the creative community in Portugal, uniting diverse artistic expressions under the clear narrative voice of Further Ther. The initiative is full of energy, ready to surprise and continually push the possibilities: “driving it without boundaries, expanding and exploring what it can become over time,” say Natasza and Tomás.
Learn more about Luso Collective
Plan your visit to Lisbon Design Week
Photography by Irina Boersma Machado
