In the past 100 years, Brazil experienced several currents of creative expression - the birth of Brazilian Modernism in 1922 which inspired the fine arts, poetry, music, cinema, architecture and symbolised a break with the past; the rise of samba and carnival from its origins to the mainstream in the 1920s and beyond; the dawn of Cinema Novo, Tropicalia and the Neo-concrete Movement; the resistance to the Military regime from 1964-1985; the awakening of the favelas through Rio Funk music in the 1990s, and much more.

At the Rio Art Residency 2025, 13 artists from varied backgrounds were invited each to take a deep dive into different moments in history, art movements, and quintessentially Brazilian cultural expressions to gain inspiration for their creations.

While in Rio, they experienced food, music, places, colours, smells, and sights which no doubt contributed to their final artworks and hopefully also enriched their worldview. Through Bryan Brinkman’s vibrant palette, Dave Krugman’s elegant lens, Noah Kocher’s textures, the flawless academic approach Mariah chose for her body of work, ALIENQUEEN’s trademark acid art, Efdot’s unmistakable lines and dots, the power of Nishant’s (Ego Dead) painting, POST WOOK’s fascinating collage, Tormius’ explorations of form and colour, Pia’s stunning illustration, and Beissú’s colourful homage, emerges a Rio both familiar and new. Works by Rio de Janeiro artists Fotogracria and Abeguar - who are new to our digital art scene - complete this exhibition with their fascinating view from the inside. 

This embracing of Brazilian culture and of the good and bad of Rio de Janeiro formed the building blocks of this residency programme and the works presented in this group exhibition. The moment when pixels learned to samba.