Solidarity Appeal Rebuilding Ricardo Romero’s Studio after Storm Kristin, Leiria

In the early hours of January 28, a severe storm, Storm Kristin, struck central Portugal, resulting in tragic loss of life and widespread devastation across the region. In Leiria, winds were reported to reach 200+ kilometres per hour, causing extensive damage to buildings, infrastructure, and public space. Trees were brought down, structures were compromised, and artworks exposed to the elements were not spared by the force of the storm.

As part of this wider destruction, the studio of artist Ricardo Romero in Leiria suffered extensive damage. Works in progress, tools, materials, and the core infrastructure that supports his artistic, pedagogical, and curatorial practice were compromised overnight. During the same storm, two of Ricardo’s public sculptures were brought down by the extreme conditions, along with two wall murals, underscoring the sheer scale of the event.

For the past 18 years, Ricardo has lived and worked in Leiria, developing a practice deeply rooted in territory, public space, and cultural mediation. His studio has long functioned as more than a workspace. It is a site of exchange, experimentation, and collective thinking, supporting projects that engage communities and contemporary urban life.

At present, all artistic activity is suspended as Ricardo confronts the wider impact of Storm Kristin on his community, alongside the personal loss of artworks and his studio in Leiria. The extent of the damage means that production cannot resume for at least two to three months, and several projects planned for 2026 were directly tied to the affected space and may no longer be viable.

A fundraising campaign has been launched by friends of the artist to support the rebuilding of the studio and the restoration of the conditions necessary for Ricardo to continue his work.

Support the Solidarity Appeal here

Our short conversation examines the impact of Storm Kristin on Ricardo Romero, his studio in Leiria, and the wider community, followed by details on how to support the appeal to help Ricardo return to his studio and creativity.

GraffitiStreet

Storm Kristin, with winds reaching nearly 200 km/h, caused extensive damage to your studio, two large-scale sculptures, and two mural works across Leiria. How did you begin to take in the scale of what was affected, both for you personally and for the wider community?

Ricardo Romero

What happened in Leiria that night was something I had never witnessed before. When I left my house and saw the scene of destruction, I quickly realised that it was not just about individual losses. What impacted me most was becoming aware that an entire community, a region, and a district had lost something important. The fact that many of my works are concentrated here is simply a consequence of that reality.

GraffitiStreet

For nearly two decades, the studio has been the foundation of your practice. What has that space represented to you, both as a place of work and as a place of continuity?

Ricardo Romero

Over nearly 20 years in Leiria, I worked in several different spaces. Over time, for logistical reasons, everything gradually became concentrated in the space I affectionately call the “barracão.” It was there that I developed most of my practice. The storm caused severe damage, making it impossible to work there for at least about three months.

GraffitiStreet

Your work is closely linked to Leiria and its communities. From your perspective as an artist, how does one begin to rebuild after such disruption and widespread damage?

Ricardo Romero

We are talking about a district with around half a million people, and it is those lives that truly matter. The natural disasters we have experienced over the past decade have left deep marks on both the landscape and our collective memory. Reconstruction must be based on two fundamental pillars: how we relate to one another and how we relate to the territory we inhabit. Art can play an essential role in rebuilding this relationship and strengthening that sense of symbiosis.

GraffitiStreet

Your public sculpture Future, conceived as a gesture of strength after the pandemic, was damaged by the severe winds of Storm Kristin, while another work was being planned for an area now deeply affected. How do you see sculpture contributing to recovery and resilience within a community?

Ricardo Romero

The work Future, created during the pandemic, represented a major personal achievement for me during an especially difficult period for everyone. It was also an artistic and technical challenge that helped me grow significantly. Seeing it knocked down helped me understand the almost Dantean scale of the storm’s violence. Given the impact of this tragedy, it is natural that priorities have shifted. Many projects have been put on hold, and at this moment, artistic work inevitably takes a back seat.

GraffitiStreet

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by your friends and fellow artists to help rebuild the studio and restore the conditions needed to continue your work. What does this collective support mean to you at this moment, and how does it help you envision the next steps?

Ricardo Romero

Seeing so many people come together to support my work is deeply moving. Knowing that others care about the continuity of what I do gives me strength at this time. One of my greatest concerns has been the postponement of projects, the prolonged interruption of work, and the associated financial consequences. This collective support helps reduce that impact and allows me to look toward the next steps with greater hope.

How to Support Ricardo Romero 

This fundraising campaign set up by friends and artists has a clear goal: to support Ricardo in the aftermath of the storm, renovate the studio, replace damaged equipment and materials, and re-establish the minimum conditions needed to resume artistic production.

Every contribution helps accelerate the recovery of a space that has consistently served artists, communities, and the wider cultural landscape. Supporting this appeal is a way of supporting Ricardo, continuity, work, and shared creation.

Support the Solidarity Appeal here: [Solidarity Appeal | Fundraising for the Studio and Artistic Work]

This fundraising campaign has been initiated and organised by a group of friends of art and artists, in close solidarity with Ricardo Romero and his practice. Support the Solidarity Appeal here.

For more about Ricardo Romero and his practice, visit: www.ricardoromero.pt