J. Cunha's Six-Decade Career Celebrated in Major São Paulo Retrospective

The Pinacoteca de São Paulo presents 'J. Cunha: Corpo tropical,' a major retrospective of José Antônio Cunha's six-decade career, occupying the entire fourth floor of Pina Estação with around 300 works. Jochen Volz, the museum's director-general, notes the institution only acquired its first Cunha piece last year, calling this late inclusion a reflection of the collection's gaps rather than the artist's relevance. Curated by Renato Menezes, the exhibition synthesizes Cunha's output as a coherent association of beauty, joy, and political commitment. Born in Salvador's Cidade Baixa in 1948, Cunha's work spans painting, graphic design, scenography, and costume design, pioneering a visual language for Brazil's Black affirmative culture movements. The show is organized into three sections: 'Made in Brasil' covers his early work with the Etsedron group; 'Passar por aqui' focuses on his 25-year creation of the Ilê Ayê carnival bloc's visual identity; and 'Neobarroco afro-pop' highlights later pieces like the monumental 'Códice' (2011-2014), recently acquired by Instituto Inhotim. Cunha also designed the iron and steel grating for Salvador's Museu Nacional de Cultura Afro-Brasileira (Muncab) in 2014. The exhibition runs until September 29, 2024, accompanied by a 176-page catalog.