Joćo D. Filipe
Joćo, Ana and Mónica with the Pope John Paul II in the Vatican on January 3,1991
Throughout his life Joćo D. Filipe has always been intrigued and involved with
art. Descendent of craftsmen he was born, February 27, 1959, in a medieval town
in Portugal; surrounded by historical cities such as Tomar, Coimbra, and Castelo
Branco, treasures of Roman, Gothic, and Baroque culture. From the mountains he
moved with his family to the seaside near Lisbon.
In 1973 Joćo set up an atelier of painting willing to be an artist for his whole life. Later on, he began to study the mysterious art of the byzantine icons in private studios, with artists from Portugal, Spain, and Italy; at the same time studying law at the Universidade de Lisboa (Lisbon University). While working in the port of Lisbon, Joćo was also self-employed as a painter, photographer and graphic artist, prior to his coming to United States.
On January 3th, 1991, Joćo and his family were personally commissioned, along
with other families of the Neocathecumenal Way, by Pope John Paul II in the
Vatican. They were sent to America, as a lay missionary family, for the New
Evangelization. With their call as a family in mission ever present, beginning in the Lituanian
Parish in Newark, the Filipes set up a studio of painting -icons in the Byzanthine classic style, and restorations- in different locations, in Newark and West New
York, New Jersey.
News and Interviews of the family have appeared on local newspapers and on television, channel 9 UPN (New York area) on October 1 and 2 of 1992. Also a coverage of the life in mission was made by a Portuguese television station, SIC., on August 19th, 1997. Joćo, with his wife Ana, and their children, Joana, Madalena, Mariana, Mónica, Thomas and Sophia then moved to Houston, Texas where Martin was born (5/26/2000). There, living among the ranches and refineries, Baroque music was heard, again, from within Atelier Filippe.
Currently Joćo is doing commissions in Europe. The Filipes,
with the addition of Catarina and newborn Vicente are in Portugal, living in
Cascais. Joćo has his art studio in Lisbon in the historical 17th century
Chiado district. Starting in 1976, Joćo Filipe has been a member of the Sociedade Nacional de
Belas Artes (National Society of Fine Arts) in Lisbon. In U.S.A Joćo joined the STP, Society of Tempera Painters,Santa
Fe, NM; ASOPA,
American Society of Portrait Artists, The American Society of Religious Artists,
Colinsville, Il;Americans for the Arts, New York, NY; VAA, Visual Arta Alliance,
Houston, TX.
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To see more of the work of Joćo D. Filipe click on the links below.
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This page was created for Universal Love ©2008 with the kind permission of Joćo D. Filipe. All rights reserved.