John Graz's Tropical Modernism at Estação Pinacoteca

exhibition · 2026-04-23

Swiss-born modernist John Graz receives a solo exhibition at Estação Pinacoteca in São Paulo, focusing on his visual art dedicated to Brazilian indigenous themes, fauna, flora, and popular culture. Born in Geneva in 1891, Graz arrived in Brazil in 1920, participated in the 1922 Semana de Arte Moderna, and introduced Art Deco and Bauhaus principles to the country. The exhibition 'John Graz: idílio tropical e moderno,' curated by Fernanda Pitta and Thierry Freitas, features approximately 155 items, including a central nucleus of works donated by the Instituto John Graz. It highlights his creation of a modern, tropical imaginary through paintings, drawings, and studies, alongside furniture and architectural designs. The show runs from July 31, 2021, to January 31, 2022, with free admission requiring online reservation. Concurrently, multiple other exhibitions are announced across Brazil, including a collective on Northeastern vernacular architecture at Galeria Galatea Salvador, the 4th Frestas Triennial in Sorocaba, and shows at MAES, MASP, IMS, and Casa de Cultura do Parque, featuring artists from Luciano Feijão to Claudia Alarcón & Silät.

Key facts

John Graz exhibition runs from July 31, 2021, to January 31, 2022, at Estação Pinacoteca in São Paulo.
Graz was born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1891 and moved to Brazil in 1920.
He participated in the 1922 Semana de Arte Moderna and introduced Art Deco and Bauhaus to Brazil.
The show features about 155 items, with works donated by the Instituto John Graz.
Curated by Fernanda Pitta and Thierry Freitas, it focuses on Graz's Brazilian-themed visual art.
Admission is free with mandatory online reservation via pinacoteca.org.br.
Multiple other exhibitions are listed, including at Galeria Galatea Salvador, Sesc Sorocaba, and MASP.
Events span from January 2022 to November 2027, covering various Brazilian cities and themes.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Estação Pinacoteca
Instituto John Graz
Galeria Galatea
Nara Roesler
Museu de Arte do Espírito Santo (MAES)
Secretaria da Cultura (Secultes)
Fundo de Cultura do Estado do Espirito Santo (Funcultura)
Política Nacional Aldir Blanc (PNAB)
Ministério da Cultura (MINC)
Midiateca Capixaba
Governo do Estado
Sesc Sorocaba
CAIXA Cultural São Paulo
Phi Projetos
Cinnamon
Governo do Brasil
Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Belo Horizonte (CCBB BH)
Ateliê Marlene Barros
Ponto de Cultura Coletivo ZBM
Universidade de Aveiro
MASP — Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand
El Espacio 23
Coleção Jorge M. Pérez
Janaina Torres Galeria
FAMA Museu
IMS - Instituto Moreira Salles
Biblioteca de Fotografia
10×10 Photobooks
Getty Research Institute
Museo Reina Sofía
Rijksmuseum
New York Public Library
Paris Photo
Livraria da Travessa
Simões de Assis
NONADA SP
NND|Azeco
DAN Galeria
SP-Arte
Casa de Cultura do Parque
Projeto 280X1020
Instituto de Cultura Contemporânea (ICCo)
Lei Rouanet
banco BV
Laranjinha
Banco Itaú
Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin - USP
Instituto Hercule Florence
Documenta Pantanal
BBM-USP
Centro Maria Antônia da USP
Império Russo
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
coleção Cyrillo Hercules Florence
Galeria Nara Roesler - SP
Roesler Hotel
Fonte
Carmo Johnson Projects
Itaú Cultural
Ilê Asipá
Pina Luz
Centro de Pesquisa e Formação do Sesc
PGHEA-MAC/USP

Locations

São Paulo
Brazil
Switzerland
Geneva
Salvador
Bahia
BA
Recife
Pernambuco
Olinda
Zona Leste paulistana
Vitória
Espírito Santo
ES
Sorocaba
SP
Capela João de Camargo
Clube 28 de Setembro
Monumento Pelourinho
Monumento à Mãe Preta
Nova York
Tóquio
Mumbai
Pequim
Jacarta
Belo Horizonte
Minas Gerais
MG
Maranhão
Portugal
Campus Santiago
Avenida Paulista
La Puntana
Argentina
Gran Chaco
Paraguai
Amazônia
Campo Grande
Mato Grosso do Sul
Itu
Sala Almeida Jr.
Setor 5
USA
Los Angeles
Madri
Amsterdã
Jardim Paulista
Lorena
Vila Nova Conceição
Centro
Alto de Pinheiros
Cidade Universitária
Porto Feliz
Mato Grosso
Grão-Pará
Pantanal
Vila Madalena
Boaçava
Bela Vista
Bom Retiro
Rio de Janeiro
Guandu
Santo Antônio da Patrulha
RS
Algarve
Fortaleza
Ceará
Ilha de Itaparica
Recôncavo Baiano
África
Europa
São Paulo - SP
Genebra
Santa Ifigênia
Salvador - BA
Jardim Faculdade
Praça da Sé
Praça da Liberdade
Funcionários
Barra Funda
Rua Padre Bartolomeu Tadei
Rua Estados Unidos
Av. Prof. Fonseca Rodrigues
Rua da Biblioteca
Avenida Europa
Rua Mourato Coelho
Rua Anunze
Praça da Luz
Rua Dr. Plínio Barreto
Largo General Osório
R. Chile
R. Barão de Piratininga
Av. Jerônimo Monteiro
Alameda Lorena
Rua Vitorino Carmilo
Praça da Bandeira
Rua Domingos Fernandes

Sources

ARTE!Brasileiros — 2021-08-03