Paula Rego, the celebrated painter, illustrator and printmaker, known for her visceral and unsettling works, has died aged 87, Victoria Miro announced earlier today.

Rego’s style evolved from abstract towards representational, reflecting aspects of feminism inspired by literature, folk-themes, myths and fairytales from her native Portugal and from Britain, as well as cartoons and religious texts. Drawing her imagery from sources as varied as Peter Pan and Mary Magdalene, Rego created narrative works imbued with mystery, while also challenging gender stereotypes and championing women’s rights.

In 1988, Paula Rego had her first major solo exhibition in Britain at the Serpentine Gallery, London, and was appointed the first National Gallery Associate Artist, London in 1990. In 2005 she received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Oxford University, and was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contribution to Art by the Queen of the United Kingdom in 2010.

Portrait of Paula Rego, 2021 © Nick Willing