In the Alentejo region of Portugal, an area with a centuries-old tradition of winemaking, lies Quinta do Quetzal. The estate, which was founded by the family de Bruin-Heijn, brings together a winery, a restaurant with sweeping views, and the Quetzal Art Center. Within its 450 m² exhibition space, curated shows present international contemporary artists, creating a dialogue between emerging voices and established names, using Collection de Bruin-Heijn as a starting point.

The estate also houses a growing collection of permanent, site-specific installations, integrated into the vineyards and surrounding landscape. Among them are Müge Yilmaz’s Goddess of Harvest, a vivid red sculpture symbolizing fertility and renewal; Kasper Bosmans’s mural Under the Mountain, which layers playful narratives drawn from local history and myth; and Susan Philipsz’s Tomorrow’s Sky, a sound installation that transforms the vineyard into an open-air acoustic space. These works, alongside contributions from other artists, reflect the expanding vision of Quinta do Quetzal.

The connection between art and wine extends into production: permanent works by Müge Yilmaz and Kasper Bosmans were translated onto the labels of the estate’s ARTE wine, bringing together terroir and artistic expression in each bottle. At Quinta do Quetzal, contemporary art, gastronomy, and winemaking converge in a place where history, culture, and landscape have long been intertwined.

Kasper Bosmans’ site-specific mural at Quinta do Quetzal mirrors the surrounding hills and vineyards, weaving together local lore, Roman history, and European folklore. With vivid symbols—from Talha wine vessels to the “sleeping king” myth, a woodpecker, donkey, and bat—the work layers geology, history, and personal references into a playful reflection on how the past continues to shape the present. Echoing the undulating landscape visible through the windows, the rolling hills continue in paint as bulbous green mountains with crowns at their feet and flames on their summits.

Kasper Bosmans (1990, Lommel, Belgium) creates works spanning sculpture, installation, painting, and drawing. Drawing on heraldry, folklore, and symbolism, he playfully reimagines cultural narratives, blending histories and images from diverse societies. With a focus on the obscure, queer, and marginalized, his art becomes a layered reflection on the complexities of the world. [Excerpt from a text by Leonor Faber-Jonker]

Standing bright red among the vines, Goddess of Harvest reflects the deep connection between Quinta do Quetzal and the land that sustains it. Created by artist Müge Yilmaz, the figure draws from ancient symbols of fertility and agriculture—echoing early earth goddesses who celebrated the cycles of growth and renewal.

First appearing on the label of Quetzal’s very first Arte wine, she now lives in the heart of the vineyard, embodying the spirit of the estate. Her presence speaks to Quetzal’s commitment to regeneration, biodiversity, and honoring tradition while looking toward the future.The sculpture invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with the land beneath your feet and the stories that shape it.

About 'Tomorrow’s Sky', her three-channel sound installation, Susan Philipsz says:

“The Quetzal bird is the symbol of the vineyard, and I imagine it conjured through sound, spreading its wings over the silent landscape. I intertwined two traditional English rounds, 'Hey, Ho, Nobody Home and Ah Poor Bird', to create a contemporary resonance. [...]

A lone voice is joined by others from the three trees at the top of the vineyard, merging and overlapping into abstract patterns. The first voices sing of wandering without possessions yet remaining merry, while the third voice laments sorrow and longs for freedom. Together they move from darkness toward hope, circling the listener with the promise of tomorrow’s sky.”

Gain more insights into the collection that is permanently on display at Quinta do Quetzal.

More Information on Quetzal Art Center & BMW ART GUIDE by Independent Collectors.