By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Aiming to make contemporary art more accessible to the public, the third edition of the “Expo Gravuras 03” (Print Expo 03), a free-entry exhibition, opened at the Galeria Homegrown Ipanema (Homegrown Gallery Ipanema) on April 14th and will remain on display through May 15th.
The exhibition includes the works of eight contemporary urban artists based throughout the country and beyond.
Featured artists include Izolag, Gais AMA, Rodrigo Branco, Talita Hoffmann, Mateu Velasco, Derlon Almeida, Fefe Talavera, and Marcelo Ment.
A Rio de Janeiro native, Marcelo Ment is well known for his works which can be found on the walls of the city; in galleries throughout the world; and in corporate event designs and advertisements.
Ment was responsible for the visual identity of “Festival do Rio 2013,” the Rio de Janeiro international film festival and has been twice awarded the Prêmio Hutuz (Hutuz Award).
Rio native, Izolag is considered a pioneer in Brazil for his stencil techniques and created one of the world’s largest stencils in the city’s Centro (Downtown)area. Fellow Rio native, Gais AMA is known for works, influenced by modernism, that uses forms, lines, and colors.
A São Paulo native, Fefe Talavera is known for creating mystical figures and characters influenced by Mayan and Aztec cultures while fellow São Paulo artist, Rodrigo Branco is known for incorporating elements and faces recalled from his childhood.
Porto Alegre artist Talita Hoffmann’s works are inspired by everyday life, music, and nature while New York-born artist Mateu Velasco is inspired by daily urban life to create a unique style that blends illustration and graffiti.
Finally, Pernambuco artist, Derlon Almeida is known for using woodcuts and contrasting colors to create a new take on street art.
Reproductions of the displayed prints will be available for purchase during the exhibition. Produced by the Lithos company, each series of prints will be signed by the artist and numbered with prices ranging from R$400 to R$800.
What: “Expo Gravuras 03”
When: April 14th through May 15th. Visiting hours are Mondays through Fridays, from 10AM to 8PM and Saturdays and holidays from 10AM to 6PM.
Where: Galeria Homegrown Ipanema, Rua Maria Quitéria, 68 – Ipanema
Entrance: FREE