Laís Amaral

Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, self-trained artist Laís Amaral began her artistic journey with the 2017 cofounding of Trovoa, a collective in Niterói, Brazil. The group, known for hands-on artistic practices, experimented with various mediums and discussed race, gender, and social issues, reflecting their experiences as racialized women in Brazilian society.

Identifying as an “artist-artisan,” a term influenced by her family background and experiences with Trovoa, Amaral currently focuses on painting.Her work explores themes of contemporary environmental collapse, particularly desertification, and the phenomenon of “whitening” in Brazilian territories. She draws parallels between these landscapes and the internal struggles of individuals facing social and economic challenges.

Amaral blurs the lines between art and craft, using unconventional tools like manicure instruments and hair combs to challenge traditional Western notions of abstraction. Her paintings act as visual narratives, employing techniques such as layering and scraping black paint over colorful compositions to reveal hidden stories akin to archaeological excavations.

Her work is influenced by her personal experiences and Brazil’s socio-political landscape, addressing issues like environmental degradation and racial and gender identity. Through her art, Amaral seeks to uncover and communicate underlying stories, fostering dialogue around these critical themes.

Laís Amaral (b. 1993, São Gonçalo, Brazil) lives and works in Rio de Janeiro.

Her most recent solo exhibitions include What happens at the seaside at dawn?, Mendes Wood DM, New York (2024); Entre dormir e acordar, Galeria 5 Bocas, Rio de Janeiro (2024); No meio do peito um buraco fundo, o mais fundo da cachoeira, onde a luz não vem de fora, HOA Gallery, São Paulo (2023); Laís Amaral: Cement and Water, M+B Almont, Los Angeles (2022); and Bebendo Agua no Saara, Anita Schwartz Galeria, Rio de Janeiro (2020).

Additionally, her work has been included in group exhibitions such as Eighteen Painters, Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York (2024); Paper Trails, Mendes Wood DM at d’Ouwe Kerke, Retranchement (2023); A Defect of Color, Museum of Art of Rio (MAR), Rio de Janeiro (2022); Possible Agreements, Mendes Wood DM, Brussels (2022); Onde se espreitam vias somos aquelas que permeiam o abismo em busca das frestas, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo, Brazil (2021); and Manjar: Para Habitar a liberdade, Solar dos Abacaxis, Rio de Janeiro (2019).

Portfolio