2025 Brazilian Art Calendar: The Most Important Events in São Paulo
In Brazil, we say, “The year only starts after Carnival,” meaning that nearly everything—from work to romantic relationships—only begins to function after this event. The Brazilian Carnival takes place on different dates each year, sometimes in February and sometimes in March, as it does this year. It is characterized by parades, parties, dancing, and drinking.
That is a fact, but it doesn’t mean the city of São Paulo stands still. There have been exhibitions, private openings, and more. But the best is yet to come.
In March, the MASP annex building is expected to be inaugurated. MASP is one of the three most important museums in São Paulo. Its main building, constructed in the 1960s, was designed by Lina Bo Bardi, an Italian architect who moved to Brazil in 1946 with her husband, Pietro Maria Bardi, who later became MASP’s director. The annex will be named after him, while the main building will bear her name.
The 14-story building will host temporary exhibitions, a restoration lab, classrooms, event rooms, a restaurant, and a shop. Last December, I had the chance to visit it, and from the three floors I was able to explore, I can confidently say it is jaw-dropping. They have built exhibition galleries comparable to the best in the world. Some of the upcoming shows include Renoir, Arts of Africa, Isaac Julien, Monet’s Ecology, and Frans Krajcberg.
From April 2nd to 6th, SP-Arte, the largest art fair in South America, will take place at the Biennial Pavilion. It serves as a meeting point for Brazilian and international galleries, bringing together collectors, curators, and artists. With around 180 exhibitors, the fair attracts approximately 30,000 visitors each edition, showcasing modern and contemporary art alongside design.
The year 2025 marks Pinacoteca’s 120th anniversary. One of the main exhibitions they will host is Pop Brazil, featuring works by Terezinha Soares, Antonio Dias, and the world-renowned Hélio Oiticica. It is set to open in late May. In the second semester, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster will take over the Octagon, a space dedicated to commissioned contemporary artworks.
In September, the 36th São Paulo Biennial will begin under the theme “Not All Travelers Walk Roads – Of Humanity as Practice.” The chief curator, Prof. Dr. Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, who is based in Berlin, leads the event alongside five other curators. Its central idea is “to rethink humanity as a verb, a living practice, in a world that requires reimagining relationships, asymmetries, and listening as the basis for coexistence.” The Biennial focuses on difference and coexistence, aiming to foster dialogue.
The São Paulo Biennial is the second-oldest in the world, after Venice’s, and remains one of today’s most significant mega-exhibitions.
It is clear that São Paulo’s art scene in 2025 will be as vibrant and dynamic as ever, offering countless opportunities to see, buy, and experience art. We at London Art Walk will be thrilled to guide you in this journey, ready to assist with all your artistic interests and needs.
Luis Sandes for London Art Walk
February 2025