António Colaço was born in Gavião, in 1952, and soon moved to Mação. António first entered the diocesan seminary, and then moved to a seminary in Porto. His father was a professional colleague of Jorge Lacão's father, also from Gavião, and his mother, born in a town of Alentejo, went to Porto at an early age to be served by a brother of Cardinal Cerejeira. The professions and the affection of her parents are also present in his work.

His artistic path has been developed by his great capacity for improvisation, which can also be seen in the techniques and materials he uses in his plastic works. Strongly marked by the graphic use of calligraphy, in his own words seen as "a transfiguration of writing. It is a writing that preserves its gestural side".

Parallel to his artistic activity, he was also a press advisor of the Socialist Party's parliamentary group. He eventually held the position for 21 years, until 2010, the year he retired.