Overview

Yes, and I’m not alone. I am my people. I don’t know exactly how to speak about it, but there is the person the individual and then there is the collective the people. Everything is both, together and separated. I can talk about this place, just as other people can talk about other things. So, yes, I share responsibility with my people: My parents, brothers, community, and ancestors.

– Paulo Nazareth

Paulo Nazareth’s work often embodies simple gestures that bring about larger ramifications, conveying an awareness of often ignored issues of immigration, racism, and colonialism in his native Brazil and beyond to the international art world. While his work may manifest in video, photography, and found objects, his strongest medium may be in cultivating relationships with people he encounters on the road – particularly those who must remain invisible due to their legal status or those who are repressed by governmental authorities. In certain aspects, Nazareth uses the romantic ideal of the wandering artist seeking universal truths to usurp facile assumptions about national identity, cultural history, and human value. In our time of unprecedented exposure, where systematic oppression can be documented and broadcasted by anyone with a smartphone, Nazareth’s mission to represent the unrepresented is more relevant and persuasive than ever before.

Paulo Nazareth (b. Old man from Borun Nak [Vale do Rio Doce], Brazil / South America) lives and works throughout the world. 

 

His recent exhibitions include Honey, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York (2025); Patuá/Patois, WIELS, Brussels (2025); LUZIA, Museo Tamayo, Mexico City (2024); Esconjuro, Inhotim, Brumadinho (2024); En la casa de mi hermano, Proyectos Ultravioleta, Guatemala City (2023); BIRDMAN, Stevenson, Amsterdam (2022); Stroke, The Power Plant, Toronto (2022); Vuadora, Pivô, São Paulo (2022); Melee, ICA Miami, Miami (2019); Faca Cega, Museu de Arte da Pampulha, Belo Horizonte (2018); The Journal, Institute for Contemporary Arts, London (2014); Premium Bananas, MASP, São Paulo (2012);

Recent group exhibitions include Ancestral Futures, Rencontres d'Arles, Arles (2025); Anozero'24 Bienal de Coimbra, Coimbra (2024); Chosen MemoriesMoMA, New York (2023); BRASIL FUTURO: AS FORMAS DA DEMOCRACIAMuseu Nacional da República, Brasilia (2023); Histórias BrasileirasMASP, São Paulo (2022); Afro-Atlantic HistoriesNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC (2022); 34th São Paulo Biennial, São Paulo (2021); Beyond the Black AtlanticKunstverein Hannover, Hannover (2020); 22nd Sydney Biennial, Sydney (2020); How to talk with birds, trees, fish, shells, snakes, bulls and lions, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin (2018); The Lotus in Spite of the Swamp, Prospect.4 Triennial, New Orleans (2017); Soft Power. Arte Brasil, Kunsthal KAdE, Amersfoort (2016); New Shamans/Novos Xamãs: Brazilian Artists, Rubell Family Collection, Miami (2016); Indigenous Voices, Latin American Pavilion 56th Venice Biennale, Venice (2015).

Selected Artworks
  • Paulo Nazareth, [Mestre Paulo] Xitara, 2023
    [Mestre Paulo] Xitara, 2023
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled [Bricks or Allegory of Civilization], 2022
    Untitled [Bricks or Allegory of Civilization], 2022
  • Paulo Nazareth, CRIADO MUDO [Ou despensa] Botocudos, 2021
    CRIADO MUDO [Ou despensa] Botocudos, 2021
  • Paulo Nazareth, CRIADO MUDO [Ou despensa] Chocolate branco-Dança africana, 2021
    CRIADO MUDO [Ou despensa] Chocolate branco-Dança africana, 2021
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2021
    Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2021
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2021
    Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2021
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2021
    Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2021
  • Paulo Nazareth, A MAN BALANCE ON THE BACK OF TWO STREET DOGS | HOMBRE SE EQUILIBRA SOBRE LAS ESPADAS DE DOS PERROS CALLEJEROS , 2020
    A MAN BALANCE ON THE BACK OF TWO STREET DOGS | HOMBRE SE EQUILIBRA SOBRE LAS ESPADAS DE DOS PERROS CALLEJEROS , 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, A WHITE WINGS OVER THE HEAD, 2020
    A WHITE WINGS OVER THE HEAD, 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, BRIGA DE RUA [de CALZSA PRETA X de CALZSA BONINA], 2020
    BRIGA DE RUA [de CALZSA PRETA X de CALZSA BONINA], 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, Concreto ou Construção, 2020
    Concreto ou Construção, 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, CORAZSANO NA BOCA | HEART IN MOUTH, 2020
    CORAZSANO NA BOCA | HEART IN MOUTH, 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, ERNESTO BATISTA: _ CONTRAPONTO ENTRE UMA PEDRA TALHADA Y UMA PEDRA BRUTA, 2020
    ERNESTO BATISTA: _ CONTRAPONTO ENTRE UMA PEDRA TALHADA Y UMA PEDRA BRUTA, 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, SACI, 2020
    SACI, 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, SEM TÍTULO – PEH NA COZINHA [OU SOBRE O EX-PRESIDENTE HERDEIRO DA FAMÍLIA REAL], 2020
    SEM TÍTULO – PEH NA COZINHA [OU SOBRE O EX-PRESIDENTE HERDEIRO DA FAMÍLIA REAL], 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, Sobre capoeira [ Au ], 2020
    Sobre capoeira [ Au ], 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, STONE OVER MAN | HOMEM SOBRE PEDRA, 2020
    STONE OVER MAN | HOMEM SOBRE PEDRA, 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled [CA - CAFE COM LEITE ], 2020
    Untitled [CA - CAFE COM LEITE ], 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, Várzea, 2020
    Várzea, 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, Várzea, 2020
    Várzea, 2020
  • Paulo Nazareth, America is a continent, 2019
    America is a continent, 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, Construção, 2019
    Construção, 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, Lei Aurea [ ou Pelourinho ], 2019
    Lei Aurea [ ou Pelourinho ], 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, Mama África - Ginga, 2019
    Mama África - Ginga, 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, MAQINA DE APRENDER A SER A SI MESMO, 2019
    MAQINA DE APRENDER A SER A SI MESMO, 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, MC - Bestiary of Capital, 2019
    MC - Bestiary of Capital, 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, Tupy Blocos, 2019
    Tupy Blocos, 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2019
    Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2019
    Untitled, from white ethnography series, 2019
  • Paulo Nazareth, Blacks in the pool [from the series Blacks in the Pool], 2018
    Blacks in the pool [from the series Blacks in the Pool], 2018
  • Paulo Nazareth, Blacks in the pool [from the series Blacks in the Pool], 2018
    Blacks in the pool [from the series Blacks in the Pool], 2018
  • Paulo Nazareth, Blacks in the pool [from the series Blacks in the Pool], 2018
    Blacks in the pool [from the series Blacks in the Pool], 2018
  • Paulo Nazareth, CA - Ita Gyra , 2018
    CA - Ita Gyra , 2018
  • Paulo Nazareth, CA - produtos de genocídio - 1500 y Colonial, 2018
    CA - produtos de genocídio - 1500 y Colonial, 2018
  • Paulo Nazareth, CA - produtos de genocídio - Chavinho y Guaicurus, 2018
    CA - produtos de genocídio - Chavinho y Guaicurus, 2018
  • Paulo Nazareth, CA - produtos de genocídio - Yerba mate Kurupi e Cigarro Pielroja, 2018
    CA - produtos de genocídio - Yerba mate Kurupi e Cigarro Pielroja, 2018
  • Paulo Nazareth, Projeto: Imagens que já existem no mundo [Fidel Castro com João Paulo II na primeira visita de um papa a Cuba depois de décadas e séculos de crueldade católica; Fidel Castro y as medalhas com o presidente Venezuelano Hugo Chavez que quebrou o embargo dos , 2018
    Projeto: Imagens que já existem no mundo [Fidel Castro com João Paulo II na primeira visita de um papa a Cuba depois de décadas e séculos de crueldade católica; Fidel Castro y as medalhas com o presidente Venezuelano Hugo Chavez que quebrou o embargo dos , 2018
  • Paulo Nazareth, All day I dream, 2017
    All day I dream, 2017
  • Paulo Nazareth, Pencil test – for me stay here, 2017
    Pencil test – for me stay here, 2017
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled [Double Watermelon], 2017
    Untitled [Double Watermelon], 2017
  • Paulo Nazareth, WE DEVELOPED, 2017
    WE DEVELOPED, 2017
  • Paulo Nazareth, West África, 2017
    West África, 2017
  • Paulo Nazareth, CA - jesus christi jump, 2013-2014
    CA - jesus christi jump, 2013-2014
  • Paulo Nazareth, CA - BROTHERS, 2013
    CA - BROTHERS, 2013
  • Paulo Nazareth, Vende-se frangos branco e caipira pato - pato abatido, 2013
    Vende-se frangos branco e caipira pato - pato abatido, 2013
  • Paulo Nazareth, CA - Black neger, 2012/2013
    CA - Black neger, 2012/2013
  • Paulo Nazareth, CA - promessas de amor, 2012-2014
    CA - promessas de amor, 2012-2014
  • Paulo Nazareth, Cuando Tengo Comida en Mis Manos [When I Have Food in My Hands], 2012
    Cuando Tengo Comida en Mis Manos [When I Have Food in My Hands], 2012
  • Paulo Nazareth, Premium Bananas, 2012
    Premium Bananas, 2012
  • Paulo Nazareth, Sem título, da série Notícias de América, 2011/2012
    Sem título, da série Notícias de América, 2011/2012
  • Paulo Nazareth, Sem título, da série Notícias de América, 2011/2012
    Sem título, da série Notícias de América, 2011/2012
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled, from Notícias de América series, 2011/2012
    Untitled, from Notícias de América series, 2011/2012
  • Paulo Nazareth, Sem título, da série Notícias de América, 2011 - 2012
    Sem título, da série Notícias de América, 2011 - 2012
  • Paulo Nazareth, Sem título, da série Notícias de América, 2011
    Sem título, da série Notícias de América, 2011
  • Paulo Nazareth, Tunic [American Red Sea], 2011
    Tunic [American Red Sea], 2011
  • Paulo Nazareth, Untitled, from the Objetos para tampar o Sol de seus olhos series | Sem título, da série Objetos para tampar o Sol de seus olhos, 2010
    Untitled, from the Objetos para tampar o Sol de seus olhos series | Sem título, da série Objetos para tampar o Sol de seus olhos, 2010
  • Paulo Nazareth, CARNE, 2005
    CARNE, 2005
Videos
  • 34ª Bienal de São Paulo

    Paulo Nazareth Aug 2, 2023
    Watch
  • 49 Medals, 2019

    Paulo Nazareth Aug 2, 2023
    Watch
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Paulo Nazareth, sculpture garden, 2019. ICA Miami