Brazilian Painter Lucia Laguna Dies at 85, Leaving a Singular Legacy of Fragmented Cityscapes
Lucia Laguna, a key figure in contemporary Brazilian painting, passed away at her residence in Rio de Janeiro on 21 September 2023, at the age of 85. She was born in 1941 and initially taught literature before embarking on her painting journey in 1994. Her inaugural solo exhibition took place in 1998, with her first gallery show following in 2006. Since 2012, she was represented by Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel and presented an open-studio installation at the 30th Bienal de São Paulo. Her artistic creations frequently illustrated scenes from her studio located in Rio's North Zone. Laguna's London solo debut was in November 2022, while her first exhibition in the US launched in May 2023. She leaves behind a significant legacy in contemporary Brazilian art.
Key facts
- Lucia Laguna died at her home in Rio de Janeiro on 21 September, aged 85
- She was born in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro state in 1941
- Laguna began painting after retiring from teaching literature in 1994, at age 53
- Her first solo exhibition was in 1998 at the Centro Cultural Cândido Mendes in Rio, at age 57
- Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel began representing her in 2012
- Her work depicted views from her studio window in Rio's North Zone, including Morro da Mangueira
- Her first London solo show, Life Is Only Possible Reinvented, opened at Sadie Coles HQ in November 2022
- Her US debut with Galerie Lelong, Apenas Meus Cabelos São Brancos (Only My Hair Is White), opened in New York in May
Entities
Artists
- Lucia Laguna
- Beatriz Milhazes
- Paulo Herkenhoff
- Milton Santos
- Rodrigo Cass
Institutions
- Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel
- Galerie Lelong
- Sadie Coles HQ
- Centro Cultural Cândido Mendes
- Bienal de São Paulo
- SP-Arte
- Art Basel
- 303 Gallery
- The Art Newspaper
Locations
- Rio de Janeiro
- Brazil
- São Paulo
- New York
- United States
- Paris
- France
- London
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
- Morro da Mangueira
- Rua Nazário
- Campos dos Goytacazes