A new wave of young Brazilian designers are coming to the fore with a unique visual take on life in the major cities, breaking the boundary between art, illustration and design.
See more Eduardo Recife's work
‘Street Art’ has become a significant force in Brazil – given further recognition by the Tate Modern’s Street Art exhibition last summer which featured the work of Brazilians Nunca and Os Gêmeos – with artists working on and off the streets and mixing techniques like graffiti, line drawing and collage.
Three of these artists have came together for Brazil Illustrated, a show at Gallery 32 in London this Septemb: Bruno Kurru, from São Paulo, Wagner Pinto, from Porto Alegre, and Eduardo Recife, from Belo Horizonte. Despite distinctively different styles, each artist worked with the space, producing breathtaking site-specific installations.
Bruno Kurru's work brings together line drawing and found objects, while Wagner Pinto draws inspiration from the iconography of native and Afro-Brazilian myths, producing works that move subtly between an extravagantly colourful subjectivity and religious symbolism. Eduardo Recife, perhaps the most established and commercially successful though still in his 20s, creates pieces which are a combination of textures, patterns and overlaying objects.
The artists have an undeniably Brazilian style and flamboyance but still manage to engage with more universal themes. They work on the blurred line between illustration and spatial art and in the process are helping forge an altogether new medium.
-
Utilitarian men’s fashion that will elevate your everydayFrom Prada to Margaret Howell, utilitarian and workwear-inspired men’s fashion gets an upgrade for S/S 2024
-
Gerhard Richter unveils new sculpture at Serpentine SouthGerhard Richter revisits themes of pattern and repetition in ‘Strip-Tower’ at London’s Serpentine South
-
Vipp’s Scandinavian guesthouse offers a sleek setting amid a wild landscapeVipp Cold Hawaii is a Scandinavian guesthouse designed by architecture studio Hahn Lavsen in Denmark’s Thy National Park
-
34th São Paulo Bienal arrives at Luma Arles for first European presentationAn exhibition of highlights from the 34th São Paulo Bienal is at Luma Arles, marking its European and tour finale
-
Anne Imhof ‘Avatar II’ review: a psychological thriller to make you wince and wonderGerman artist Anne Imhof’s ‘Avatar II’ exhibition at London’s Sprüth Magers is a compelling, uncanny probing of contemporary culture, reality and artifice
-
‘Light & Space’ at Copenhagen Contemporary: ‘moving art without moving elements’On view until 4 September, epic group show ‘Light & Space’ explores the past and present of the iconic light and installation art movement. It’s physical, emotional, bodily and disorientating
-
Manifesta 14: an unflinching look at Kosovo’s fraught history and ambitious futureIn Prishtina, nomadic biennial Manifesta 14 draws on the past and future of Kosovo through ambitious art and staggering architecture
-
Documenta 15 review: social practice, controversy and food for thoughtMired in evolving controversy, Documenta 15 has raised critical questions about transparency, accountability and creative freedom. Emily McDermott travels to Kassel to explore how an edition filled with social practice art urges active participation and throws global power structures into sharp relief
-
‘Worldbuilding’ exhibition review: a trip through the uncanny valley of art and gamingCurated by Hans Ulrich Obrist, ‘Worldbuilding: Gaming and Art in the Digital Age’ at the Julia Stoschek Collection, Düsseldorf, explores how artists can embrace and subvert the visual language and culture of video games
-
Frieze New York 2022: activism, NFT action, and stellar shows around townTo mark the tenth-anniversary edition of Frieze New York (18 – 22 May), we’ve compiled a guide to the most exciting happenings inside and outside The Shed
-
Review: Larry Bell saturates senses and bends perception at Hauser & Wirth LondonAt Hauser & Wirth London, iconic Light and Space artist Larry Bell is testing the limits of optical and spatial reality in new glass installations. The show coincides with the artist’s major exhibition at Dia Beacon, New York
