Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian

Centro de Arte Moderna José de Azeredo Perdigão (CAM) is Lisbon's museum of modern and contemporary art, run by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation. It sits in the Avenidas Novas district, across the garden from the Gulbenkian Museum, and is one of the best places in the city to see Portuguese art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Where does the name come from, and when did it open?

The centre opened in July 1983. It is named after José de Azeredo Perdigão, the foundation's first president, who conceived the project together with the foundation's board. The original building was designed by British architect Sir Leslie Martin and his associates. The aim was to give modern art its own permanent home next to the founder's collection.

What will you see in the collection?

CAM holds one of the largest collections of 20th and 21st century Portuguese art, spanning painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and prints. Alongside Portuguese artists, the Gulbenkian modern collection also includes British ones. The museum keeps growing: it commissions new work and adds to its holdings, which today number around 12,000 pieces. You will find both well-known landmarks of Portuguese modernism and art being made now.

What changed in 2024?

In September 2024 the building reopened after a complete redesign by Kengo Kuma & Associates, working with OODA and VDLA. The new architecture ties the museum more closely to the surrounding garden, so a visit is as much a stroll through the foundation's grounds as a tour of exhibitions. If you knew CAM before the works, it is worth seeing again.

How do you get there?

The address is Rua Dr. Nicolau de Bettencourt, 1050-078 Lisbon. The nearest metro stations are São Sebastião and Praça de Espanha, and several bus lines stop nearby. From the city centre it takes about a quarter of an hour by metro.

How to plan your visit

CAM stands right beside the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, so many visitors combine the two in one day: the founder's collection of ancient, Eastern and European art in the morning, modern art in the afternoon. You walk between the buildings through the Gulbenkian Garden, which is a pleasant place to rest in its own right. Set aside several hours to see both museums properly. Opening hours, closing days and ticket prices (combined tickets and separate tickets for temporary exhibitions exist) vary by season, so check the foundation's website before you go.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed CAM? The original 1983 building is by Sir Leslie Martin. Its current look comes from the Kengo Kuma redesign completed in 2024.

Is CAM part of the Gulbenkian Museum? Both belong to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and are neighbours, but they are separate buildings: the founder's collection is in the main museum, modern art is in CAM.

What kind of art is on show? Mainly Portuguese art of the 20th and 21st centuries: painting, sculpture, drawing, photography and prints, plus works by British artists.

How long does a visit take? Allow around two hours for CAM alone, and most of a day if you combine it with the main museum and the garden.

How do I get there by metro? Get off at São Sebastião or Praça de Espanha and walk a short distance to the entrance on Rua Dr. Nicolau de Bettencourt.

Why go?

If you want to understand how Portuguese artists saw their country and the world over the last century, CAM is the best starting point in Lisbon. The new architecture, the garden outside the windows and the broad sweep of the collection make it a fixture on any art lover's itinerary.