Renato Costa: Street Artist from São Paulo's Jardim Iporanga

Renato Costa, a street artist from Jardim Iporanga in São Paulo's southern zone, began working at age eight to support his family. At eighteen, he discovered circus arts and juggling through rave parties, leading him to craft and sell his own clubs. After traveling to Chile and Argentina three times to sell circus materials, his workshop was robbed, forcing him to the streets. For over seven years, he has performed at the traffic light intersection of Rua Estados Unidos and Avenida 9 de Julho in Jardim América. From a three-meter-high unicycle he built himself, Costa creates traffic light performances inspired by everyday themes. His income varies from around 50 reais on bad days to up to 200 reais on good days, depending on his performance, time spent at the intersection, and daily energy. A blend of actor, director, producer, and circus artist, he survives through circus work and dreams of one day bringing his art to the streets of Europe.