The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Brazil might be soccer. Of course, the largest country in South America is well known for its five World Cup titles, but when it comes to art, Brazil is a treasure trove of galleries and museums. From April 9 to 12, all eyes will be on São Paulo and SP-Arte, which will bring over 120 leading galleries from Brazil and other countries from around the world. Galerie Agnès Monplaisir is one of them, displaying artworks by international artists Olga de Amaral and Jim Amaral.
However, if you prefer to stay away from the spectacle of an international art fair while appreciating some great artworks, we have what you’re looking for, beginning with São Paulo and its incredible art scene. At a time when selfie sticks are part of our environment, you can still remember the old good days with “Portraits: The Last Headline” at Galeria Bergamin, displaying works by artists such as Nan Goldin and Alex Katz.
In addition, Galeria Fortes Vilaça also has a lot to offer, with a new exhibition by Rodrigo Matheus and his sculptures made of household objects and industrial pieces found in the city. Hosted at Galpão Fortes Vilaça, Leda Catunda explores pop references to question ideas of beauty and exoticism.
If you want to see performance art, visit Luciana Brito Galeria, featuring artworks that examine the link between Marina Abramović and Brazil, based on a trip she took there in 2012. Another artist, another story about Brazil: In 1985, Alfredo Jaar traveled to the country to document the Serra Pelada gold mine. A large body of work resulted from this expedition, which was released at the Venice Biennale in 1986. Today, the Galeria Luisa Strina is featuring an exhibition focused on the “Serra Pelada” series. Besides, the White Cube gallery brings Germany to Brazil, with an exhibition about Anselm Kiefer, exploring themes of history, politics, landscape, and the Morgenthau Plan.
Heading north, Rio de Janeiro will delight all kinds of art lovers. Miguel Rio Branco and his “Mécanique des Femmes, la Suite” explores the feminine through videos, watercolors, photos, and assemblages at the Silvia Cintra Art Gallery + Box 4. In addition, as of April 14, the Museu de Arte do Rio, which is celebrating its third anniversary this year, has two exhibitions on view. The first one displays photos from Kurt Klagsbrunn, who documented social and political events in Brazil for 40 years, while the second one focuses on the photographic relationship between Brazil and France.
Between SP-Arte in São Paulo, art exhibitions all around Brazil, and the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Brazil is waiting for you. Ready…set…go!
Exhibition: “Experiências Pictóricas”
When: March 3–April 17, 2015
Where: Galeria Oscar Cruz, rua Clodomiro Amazonas, 526, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Social contract: Rubens Mano”
When: March 17–April 17, 2015
Where: Galeria Millan, rua Fradique Coutinho, 1360, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Miguel Rio Branco: Mécanique des femmes la suíte”
When: March 19–April 25, 2015
Where: Silvia Cintra Art Gallery + Box 4, rua das Acácias 104, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Exhibition: “Rodrigo Cunha: Skeptical garden” / “Eloá Carvalho: Projects of my waiting”
When: March 24–April 18, 2015
Where: Zipper Galeria, rua Estados Unidos, 1494, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Portraits: the last headline”
When: March 26–April 30, 2015
Where: Galeria Bergamin, rua Oscar Freire, 379 lj 1 Jardins, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Rodriguo Matheus: Atração”
When: April 6–May 9, 2015
Where: Galeria Fortes Vilaça, rua Fradique Coutinho, 1500, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Marina Abramović: Places of Power”
When: April 6–May 16, 2015
Where: Luciana Brito Galeria, rua Gomes de Carvalho, 842, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Athos Bulcão”
When: April 7–May 13, 2015
Where: Galeria Nara Roesler, avenida Europa, 655, Jardin Europa, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Alfredo Jaar | Gold in the Morning”
When: April 7–May 23, 2015
Where: Galeria Luisa Strina, rua Padre João Manuel 755, Cerqueira César, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Cao Guimarães, Depois”
When: April 7–June 6, 2015
Where: Galeria Nara Roesler, avenida Europa, 655, Jardin Europa, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Anselm Kiefer: Paintings”
When: April 7–June 20, 2015
Where: White Cube, rua Agostinho Rodrigues Filho, 550, Vila Mariana, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Arte Do Brasil no Século 20”
When: April 10–June 28, 2015
Where: Museu de Arte de São Paulo, avenida Paulista, 1578, São Paul, Brazil
Exhibition: “Leda Catunda: e o gusto dos outros”
When: April 11–May 23, 2015
Where: Galpão Fortes Vilaça, rua James Holland, 71, Barra Funda, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Betty Woodman”
When: April 11–May 23, 2015
Where: Mendes Wood DM, rua da Consolação, 3358, Jardins, São Paulo, Brazil
Exhibition: “Rio, a French passion” / “Kurt Klagsbrunn, a humanist photographer in Rio (1940–1960)”
When: April 14–August 9, 2015
Where: Museu de Arte do Rio, Praça Mauá, 5, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil