The BESart photography collection - the Banco Espírito Santo Collection - in exhibition at "BES Arte & Finança", Praça Marquês de Pombal - 3, in Lisbon, started in 2004 with the acquisition of a light box by Jeff Wall, a self-portrait by Cindy Sherman, a view of Shanghai by Thomas Struth and a bookcase by Candida Höffer. These works were considered as a reference framework for the collection that was just then starting.

All the works included in the Collection are based on photographic records in their widest expression: hence they include works such as Wolfgang Tillmans' installations, sculptures that include photos, namely by Christian Boltanski, or drawings and paintings that also use photography, from artists such as John Baldessari.

As befits a Collection that aims to be contemporary and follow the ongoing works of the artists, most of the pieces included in it were made after the year 2000. The collection represents artists from all over the world, with international artists currently accounting for more than 60% of the total.

At present the collection comprises 900 works by 280 artists from 38 nationalities.

The BESart Collection is a founding member of IACCCA - International Association of Corporate Collections of Contemporary Art.