Born on April 27, 1913, in Caldas da Rainha. He graduated from ESBAL in Sculpture. Between 1941 and 1943 he worked and exhibited in Rio de Janeiro. Returns to Lisbon to do his thesis on the Higher Sculpture Course. In the 40s it is Fellow of the IAC in Madrid. Between 1946 and 53 he participated in the International Watercolor Salon in Madrid. He created the Ceramics School-Studio and creates several ceramic monuments and reliefs for public places. Between 1954 - 58 gives Start with the abstract sculptures of the so-called «Fase Mar». Between 1959 – 62 begins the sculptures of the «Minimalist Phase».

As vice-president of the National Society of Fine Arts, he modernized his services, creating a course called Base Drawing, which was the first design course to operate in Portugal. Later, in 1970, he proposed the socio-political movement that became known as Lisbon 70.

É author of the monument in honor of Álvaro Martins Homem, inaugurated on July 17, 1960 in Praça Velha in Angra do Heroísmo and, in 1984, removed and installed in the Avenidas Novas roundabout, where it is located.

Throughout his career he received dozens of awards such as the Official Order of Christ, in 1940; 4º and 5º Prizes in the competition for the decoration of the Lisbon Bridge mooring; Absolute Merit Award from the Ministry of Social Equipment for the Monument Project to the 25th of April – 1985. In 1963 – 69 is appointed vice president of SNBA.

João Fragoso passed away on December 28, 2000, in Lisbon.