Art in Brazil: A Guide for Collectors, Curators and the Curious (Digital Edition)

MASP's Massive Rebirth

Lina Bo Bardi's masterpiece gets a companion 

"Assis Chateaubriand, the owner and all-powerful boss of the media conglomerate Diários e Emissoras Associados of São Paulo, met Pietro Maria Bardi in 1946 at an exhibition in Rio de Janeiro, where the Italian art dealer was displaying fifty-four paintings, dated from the thirteenth to the eighteenth centuries, that he was trying to sell in Brazil. The Paulista patron promptly invited him to help build his ambitious project: a museum bringing together European and Brazilian artworks in the new building he intended to construct in São Paulo as the new headquarters of the Diários." (Luiz Armando Bagolin)

Humanity As A Practice

Curator Bonaventure Ndikung discusses the upcoming Thirty-Sixth São Paulo Biennial

"The most anticipated international exhibition of this year is the thirty-sixth São Paulo Biennial, whose general curator is Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, a Cameroonian based in Berlin, where he directs the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (HKW). A prominent figure in the world of contemporary art, Ndikung takes the São Paulo Biennial on the path to humanity as a practice of encounters and negotiations at the convergence of various worlds." (Ivi Brasil)

 + A Nation of Biennials

"In addition to the world-renowned São Paulo Biennial, Brazil boasts at least three other biennials, ranging from the large and well-established to the brand new." (Beto Shwafaty)

Street Art Serenade: São Paulo is a canvas of cultural exploration

"For any cultural explorer seeking the thrill of new and challenging art, São Paulo is a remarkable destination. As one of the largest cities in the world, it presents a dynamic juxtaposition of gritty street culture and towering edifices erected by industrial titans. As Brazil’s economic powerhouse, it’s experienced significant growth, largely influenced by its vibrant immigrant population. The city thrives on its multicultural roots, which are vividly reflected in its diverse artistic expressions." (Simon Watson)

Rooms For Art: Discovering "The Many Brazils" at Rosewood São Paulo with curator Marc Pottier

"For travelers passionate about art and luxury, Rosewood São Paulo offers far more than just a stay—it delivers an immersive cultural experience. Located in the heart of South America's largest metropolis, this remarkable hotel showcases Brazilian creativity in every detail, from the stained-glass windows of its chapel to the intricate tiles of its pool. One of the visionaries behind this artistic integration, French curator Marc Pottier, has spent over a decade shaping the art collections at Rosewood and the broader Cidade Matarazzo project." (Tatiana Cesso)

+ Hotels for Art Lovers

Brazilian hospitality is legendary, celebrated for its unique blend of warmth, attention to detail, and flair. But in Brazil, hospitality goes beyond service—it reaches the level of an art form, offering luxurious experiences that rival the best in the world. For global travelers and art collectors, these exceptional hotels represent the pinnacle of sophistication, where comfort, design and cultural immersion seamlessly converge." (Tatiana Cesso)

Constantly Upcycling: Paula Rondon and B.Luxo offer the coolest one-of-a-kind couture

"Part of São Paulo’s fashion scene since their late teens, Rondon, forty-six, and França, forty-three, have procured vintage wares all over the world for almost two decades. They first started selling their finds to industry insiders, and then grew their line until becoming one of the most beloved vintage sellers in the city. " (Isa Giallorenzo)

Let's Give It A Try. Why Not?: How Fernanda Feitosa started South America's largest art fair and keeps SP-Arte thriving after more than twenty years

"Fernanda Feitosa may have founded SP-Arte, now one of the preeminent art fairs in Latin America, twenty-one years ago, but she's not resting, on laurels or anything else. She's a hands-on leader of her institution, constantly in motion, meeting with galleries, collectors, sponsors and anyone else vital to creating a thriving art fair. She's willing to do whatever it takes to move forward and farther each year, so much so that she invites an American journalist, me, to her home early on a February summer morning, for breakfast and conversation." (Brian Hieggelke)

+ Art Fairs in São Paulo and Beyond

"Though São Paulo offers three art fairs alone, including the largest in South America, SP-Arte, other regions offer their own gatherings of the art market, most notably the well-established ArtRio." (Beto Shwafaty)

Keep Posting Low: Live Among the Art in Rio de Janeiro

"Rio de Janeiro is one of the most Instagrammable cities in the world. It is as though everything seems to call for documentation: its lush nature of beaches, sea-of-hills landscapes, and the Atlantic Forest; the blend of modern and colonial urban architecture; its winding alleys; the hardworking communities, known as favelas, perched on hills; samba circles, carnival street parades and Brazilian-funk parties; its deliciously abundant gastronomic offerings; the twilight hour, when people sitting on sea rocks at Arpoador applaud the sunset." (Olavo Barros)

The Art Geography of São Paulo

"The sheer scale of São Paulo, the largest city in South America, can seem overwhelming to a visitor. Its population is just under twelve million, about a third larger than New York. And it sprawls over nearly 600 square miles, or about twice the size of the land that the entirety of New York City occupies. But, fortunately, the visual art culture occupies a much smaller footprint, concentrated in a number of neighborhoods starting in the Centro Histórico, and spreading out to its northwest to Barra Funda less than two miles away, and southwest, terminating just over seven miles away in the lush wealthy enclave of Morumbi." 

Art Paradises: Excursions from São Paulo for Sensory Delights

"São Paulo is a paradise for art and design lovers, and Rio de Janeiro is a must for any visitor to Brazil, but the adventure doesn’t have to end there. These extraordinary destinations offer a perfect blend of creativity, rich heritage and unforgettable experiences." (Tatiana Cesso)

A Perfect Ten: A Decade of Artist Interviews

"Newcity Brazil launched ten years ago this month, and from the beginning, São Paulo-based, Rio de Janeiro-born art historian and journalist Cynthia Garcia has been contributing interviews with some of the most important artists, gallerists, curators and collectors populating Brazil's modern and contemporary art culture." (Cynthia Garcia)

60 Pages