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 Goodwood Art Foundation, Chichester (2025, upcoming); Mendes Wood DM, New York (2024); Galeria 5 Bocas, Rio de Janeiro (2024); HOA Gallery, São Paulo (2023); M+B Almont, Los Angeles (2022); and Anita Schwartz Galeria, Rio de Janeiro (2020).
Additionally, her work has been included in group exhibitions such as Goodwood Art Foundation, Chichester (2025, upcoming); MAM Rio, Rio de Janeiro (2025); Mendes Wood DM at d’Ouwe Kerke, Retranchement (2025 and 2023); MAM São Paulo, São Paulo (2024); Andrew Kreps Gallery, New York (2024); Museum of Art of Rio (MAR), Rio de Janeiro (2022); Mendes Wood DM, Brussels (2022); Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo, Brazil (2021); and Solar dos Abacaxis, Rio de Janeiro (2019).
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Para Rihanna, 2024
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Pausa, 2024
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Untitled I (Eu sou um peixe dourado na correnteza), 2024
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Untitled IV (Como um zumbido estrelar, um pássaro no fundo do ouvido series), 2024
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Untitled ll (Transformando nóia em ventania), 2024
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Untitled lll (O que acontece na beira do mar de madrugada? series), 2024
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Untitled I (Os olhos da rainha estão por todos os lugares series), 2023
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Untitled II (Confio series), 2023
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Untitled II (Estude fundo series), 2023
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Untitled II (Fio series), 2023
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Untitled III (Estude fundo series), 2023
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Untitled III (Fio series), 2023
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Untitled XI (Cimento e água, Gamboa series), 2023
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Samba em Paris (Gesto-caminho series), 2022
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Untitled (Gesto-Caminho series), 2022
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Untitled (Gesto-Caminho series), 2022
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Cafuné, 2021
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Entre dormir e acordar, 2021
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Laís Amaral
2025 Read more -
38th Panorama of Brazilian Art: A thousand degrees
Abigail Campos Leal, Ana Magalhães e José Lira, Ariana Nuala, Denise Ferreira da Silva, Edson Barrus, Eliane Potiguara, Elizabeth Machado e Cauê Alves, Fabrícia Ramos, Germano Dushá, Jackson Augusto, Marcos Queiroz, Nina da Hora, Sidarta Ribeiro, Sidnei B, 2024 Read more
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