L’Atlas is pleased to announce its newcollaboration with Portugese gallery Foco.
The title of the exhibition draws inspiration from the celebrated song by Amália Rodrigues, a timeless icon of fado and Portuguese culture. While the song warns against Lisbon being overtaken by foreign influences, specifically French culture, it is, above all, a call to preserve Portuguese identity and roots. This reference serves as a metaphor for a city that, despite its openness to the world, strives to maintain its essence and singularity in the face of modernity and globalization.

Bringing together the works of thirteen artists, Portuguese and international, Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa offers a multifaceted portrait of Lisbon, seen through the eyes of those who live and create there.
Across diverse mediums, from sculpture and painting to photography and video installation, the exhibition explores the tension between tradition and transformation, heritage and reinvention. Each work acts as a fragment of Lisbon, capturing its layered histories, its shifting landscapes, and the contemporary forces reshaping its identity.

This exhibition is the first part of a two-part exchange between Lisbon and Paris, a Saison Croisée between the two capitals. While Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa takes place at Atlas in Paris, a parallel exhibition will be held in a Lisbon at the gallery, showcasing the work of French artists currently living and working in Paris. This initiative seeks to introduce the contemporary French art scene to a Portuguese audience, fostering dialogue between the artistic communities of both cities. Through this dual exhibition, Lisbon and Paris are brought into conversation, not in opposition, but in resonance.

Lisboa Não Sejas Francesa invites visitors to explore how cities shape artists, how identities evolve through cultural exchange, and how art serves as a bridge between past and future, tradition andreinvention.

About Foco
Founded in 2018 by French architect Benjamin Gonthier, Galeria Foco is a cultural space dedicated to contemporary art, located in the heart of the multicultural Intendente neighborhood in Lisbon. Housed in a former car dealership on the ground floor of a building designed by Alberto Pessoa, renowned for his work on the Gulbenkian Foundation, the gallery covers 300 sqm across two levels. An old car lift, now repurposed, connects these spaces and reflects the unique character
of the venue, where industrial history meets contemporary creation.
Foco stands out for its commitment to emerging artists, both Portuguese and international, offering them a platform for innovative and experimental expressions. Its programming, covering a wide range of disciplines, painting, photography, sculpture, installations… is designed to foster a stimulating dialogue between artists, collectors, and the public. Beyond its exhibitions, the gallery plays a key role in the performative arts through Novo, an annual festival held every summer. Performances, exhibitions, and debates come together, contributing to the artistic and cultural vitality of Lisbon. With growing international ambition, Foco is establishing its presence on the global scene by participating in major art fairs such as Contemporary Istanbul, Arco Madrid, Arco Lisbon, Art Brussels, and Artissima in Turin.