Afro-Brazilian Art Examined Through Exhibitions, Historical Context, and Vernacular Architecture
An in-depth analysis of Afro-Brazilian art confronts issues of systemic racism and overlooked narratives through various exhibitions. Notable among these is 'Barracas e fachadas do nordeste' at Galeria Galatea Salvador, featuring artists such as Montez Magno, Mari Ra, Zé di Cabeça, Fabio Miguez, and Adenor Gondim, under the curation of Tomás Toledo and Alana Silveira. Additionally, the 4th Frestas – Trienal de Artes, titled 'do caminho um rezo,' at Sesc Sorocaba, curated by Luciara Ribeiro, Naine Terena, and Khadyg Fares, presents 188 pieces reflecting Black, Indigenous, and marginalized perspectives. Other notable exhibitions include 'Mestre Didi' at Itaú Cultural, Lázaro Roberto's 'Zumví Arquivo Afro Fotográfico' at IMS Paulista, and 'Greve Negra Já!' by Luciano Feijão at MAES. The discussion highlights the necessity for a decolonized approach to art history that acknowledges Afro-Brazilian influences.
Key facts
- The article analyzes Afro-Brazilian art within Brazil's history of structural racism and slavery.
- Multiple current exhibitions focus on Afro-Brazilian and vernacular themes, including shows in Salvador, Sorocaba, São Paulo, and Vitória.
- The 'Barracas e fachadas do nordeste' exhibition runs from January 30 to May 30, 2026, at Galeria Galatea Salvador.
- Frestas – Trienal de Artes 'do caminho um rezo' is on view from February 27 to August 16, 2026, at Sesc Sorocaba.
- The 'Mestre Didi' exhibition at Itaú Cultural is scheduled from April 8 to July 5, 2026.
- Lázaro Roberto's 'Zumví Arquivo Afro Fotográfico' at IMS Paulista runs from March 28 to August 23, 2026.
- Luciano Feijão's 'Greve Negra Já!' at MAES in Vitória is open from February 24 to April 26, 2026.
- The text cites over 30 artists and numerous scholars, curators, and institutions central to the discourse on Afro-Brazilian art.
Entities
Artists
- Heitor dos Prazeres
- André Ricardo
- Eneida Sanches
- Lídia Lisboa
- Santidio Pereira
- Heloisa Hariadne
- Moisés Patrício
- Sidney Amaral
- Peter de Brito
- No Martins
- Arjan Martins
- Aline Motta
- Janaina Barros
- Juliana dos Santos
- Rosana Paulino
- Marcelo D'Salete
- Wagner Viana
- Luiz 83
- Montez Magno
- Mari Ra
- Zé di Cabeça
- Fabio Miguez
- Adenor Gondim
- Luciano Feijão
- Lázaro Roberto
- Deoscóredes Maximiliano dos Santos
- Rubem Valentim
- Ayrson Heráclito
- Clovis Moura
- Tadeu Kaingang
- Antônio Bispo dos Santos
- Nêgo Bispo
- Ivald Granato
- Francisco Brennand
- José Cláudio
- Cao Guimarães
- Marcelo Silveira
- Júlio Bittencourt
- Marlene Barros
- Claudia Alarcón
- Thalita Hamaoui
- Deborah Paiva
- Nuno Ramos
- Marcos Amaro
- Belony Ferreira
- Paulo Pedro Leal
- Anna Atkins
- Elizabeth B. Brownell
- Eslanda Cardozo Goode Robeson
- Annette Messager
- Angèle Etoundi Essamba
- Hiromix
- Claudia Andujar
- Maureen Bisilliat
- Gretta Sarfaty
- Vilma Slomp
- Claudia Jaguaribe
- Anna Mariani
- Stefania Bril
- Georg Heinrich von Langsdorff
- Ludwig Riedel
- Néster Rubtsov
- Aimé-Adrien Taunay
- Hercule Florence
- Wilhelmine von Langsdorff
- Alberto Henschel
- Juca Rosa
- Abdias Nascimento
- Jean Boghici
- Carlos Lacerda
Institutions
- Galeria Galatea Salvador
- Nara Roesler
- Sesc Sorocaba
- Itaú Cultural
- IMS - Instituto Moreira Salles
- Museu de Arte do Espírito Santo (MAES)
- MASP — Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand
- CAIXA Cultural São Paulo
- Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil Belo Horizonte (CCBB BH)
- Janaina Torres Galeria
- FAMA Museu
- DAN Galeria
- Casa de Cultura do Parque
- Biblioteca Brasiliana Guita e José Mindlin - USP
- Simões de Assis
- NONADA SP
- Fonte
- Carmo Johnson Projects
- Pina Luz
- Centro de Pesquisa e Formação do Sesc
- 10×10 Photobooks
- Getty Research Institute
- Museo Reina Sofía
- Rijksmuseum
- New York Public Library
- Instituto Hercule Florence
- Documenta Pantanal
- Centro Maria Antônia da USP
- Ilê Asipá
- Ateliê Marlene Barros
- Coletivo ZBM
- Movimento Grevista Negro
- Silät
- Coleção Jorge M. Pérez
- El Espacio 23
- Phi Projetos
- Cinnamon
- Secretaria da Cultura (Secultes)
- Fundo de Cultura do Estado do Espirito Santo (Funcultura)
- Ministério da Cultura (MINC)
- Política Nacional Aldir Blanc (PNAB)
- Midiateca Capixaba
- Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
- Instituto de Cultura Contemporânea (ICCo)
- Lei Rouanet
Locations
- Salvador
- Brazil
- Bahia
- Sorocaba
- São Paulo
- Vitória
- Espírito Santo
- Belo Horizonte
- Minas Gerais
- Itu
- Porto Feliz
- Mato Grosso
- Grão-Pará
- Recife
- Pernambuco
- Olinda
- Rio de Janeiro
- Nova York
- United States
- Tóquio
- Japan
- Mumbai
- India
- Pequim
- China
- Jacarta
- Indonesia
- La Puntana
- Argentina
- Gran Chaco
- Paraguay
- Aveiro
- Portugal
- Santiago
- Miami
- Los Angeles
- Madri
- Spain
- Amsterdã
- Netherlands
- Algarve
- Santo Antônio da Patrulha
- Rio Grande do Sul
- Campo Grande
- Mato Grosso do Sul
- Ipojuca
- Fortaleza
- Ceará
- Macáubas