Biography
The work of Brígida Baltar (b. 1959, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - d. 2022, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) spanned across a wide range of mediums, including video, performance, installation, drawing, and sculpture. Baltar's artistic production began in the 1990s with small poetic gestures, developed in her studio-home in Botafogo, a neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. During nearly ten years, the artist collected items of domestic life such as the water dripping through small cracks on her roof, or dust falling from the bricks of her walls. This act of collecting subsequently expanded into the outside world, giving rise to the Coletas series, an attempt at capturing mist, dew and ocean breeze—an ultimately impossible or rather, intangible task. In the meantime, she also created a variety of works using the collected brick dust, ranging from landscape drawings on paper, or ornate compositions drawn directly on walls or floors, to sculptures, proposing pieces that uniquely intertwined her past and present practice until her passing.
The artist recurrently based her artistic process in fabulation, intertwining and often embodying human and animal characteristics as a tool to redefine our relationship with nature. This is notably visible in works such as Ghost Crab, Bee House and Voar. Her later work with ceramic engages with the relationship between body and shelter, one of the main themes in her work, proposing shapes of sea shells that merge with those of the human body. In her late years, the artist focused on embroidery, producing works related to her body and her skin, re-affirimg her career-long ability to use her personal experience to address philosophical concepts and sensations.
Her recent solo shows include: Brígida Baltar (1959-2022): To Make the World a Shelter, at Nara Roesler (2023), in New York, USA; Brígida Baltar: Filmes, at Espaço Cultural BNDES (2019), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; A carne do mar, at Galeria Nara Roesler (2018), in São Paulo, Brazil; SAM Art Project (2012), in Paris, France; and O amor do pássaro rebelde, at Cavalariças (2012), Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage (EAV Parque Lage), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her work featured in recent group shows, such as: The Fold in the Horizon, at Nara Roesler (2022), in New York, USA; 12th Mercosul Biennial, Brazil (2020); I Remember Earth, at Magasin des Horizons (2019), Centre d'arts et de cultures, in Grenoble, France; Studiolo XXI – Desenhos e afinidades, at Fundação Eugénio de Almeida Centro de Arte e Cultura (2019), in Évora, Portugal; Abstracción textil \ Textile Abstraction, at Galería Casas Riegner (2018), in Bogotá, Colombia; Neither-nor: Abstract Landscapes, Portraits and Still Lives, at Terra-Art Project (2017), in London, UK; Constructing Views: Experimental Film and Video from Brazil, at New Museum (2010), in New York, USA. Her work is part of important collections, such as: Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro (MAM Rio), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo (MAC USP), São Paulo, Brazil; Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH), Houston, USA; Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, among others.
Exhibitions
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co/respondences: brazil and abroad
luis pérez-oramas 22.6 - 25.8.2023Galeria Nara Roesler New York is pleased to present Co/respondences: Brazil and Abroad , a group show curated by Luis Pérez-Oramas where works by major...Read more -
brígida baltar (1959–2022): to make the world a shelter
brigida baltar 9.3 - 29.4.2023Nara Roesler is pleased to present the first solo exhibition of Brazilian artist Brígida Baltar in New York. Brígida Baltar (1959–2022): To Make the World...Read more -
meu corpo: território de disputa
galciani neves 9.2 - 16.3.2023Nara Roesler São Paulo tem o prazer de inaugurar seu calendário anual de exposições com mais uma edição do Roesler Curatorial Project. A coletiva Meu...Read more -
the fold in the horizon
curadoria marcos chaves 24.6 - 13.8.2022Nara Roesler New York is pleased to present The fold in the horizon , a group exhibition curated by artist Marcos Chaves. The show brings...Read more -
in waiting: works produced in isolation
núcleo curatorial nara roesler 9.12.2020 - 14.2.2021In Waiting: Works Produced in Isolation brings together a selection of works produced during isolation by various artists represented by Nara Roesler—thoughts about seclusion have...Read more
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inside | online exhibition
11.4 - 30.5.2020Inside is a virtual exhibition composed of dissimilar works, grouped under the common denominator of the inside/interior. The emblematic image of the curatorial selection is...Read more -
#arteconecta
galeria nara roesler + uniãosp 2.4 - 30.6.2020UniãoSP is an independent and voluntary initiative to strengthen the battle against coronavirus in the state of São Paulo. The group coordinates its actions with...Read more -
estruturas encontradas
luis pérez-oramas 2.12.2019 - 15.2.2020It is with great pleasure that Galeria Nara Roesler | São Paulo presents Estruturas Encontradas [Found Structures], a group exhibition bringing together artworks by Brígida...Read more -
the woman who walks with me
brígida baltar, cristina canale e karin lambrecht 25.6 - 16.8.2019Galeria Nara Roesler | New York is pleased to present The Woman Who Walks With Me, a group exhibition featuring work by Brígida Baltar, Cristina...Read more -
a carne do mar
brígida baltar 26.2 - 24.3.2018Galeria Nara Roesler | São Paulo presents A Carne do Mar [The Flesh of the Ocean], solo show by artist Brigida Baltar curated by Marcelo...Read more
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roesler hotel #27 | purity is a myth/a pureza é um mito
michael asbury 10.6 - 29.7.2017Purity is a Myth: the monochrome in contemporary art Galeria Nara Roesler | São Paulo is pleased to present Purity is a Myth: the monochrome...Read more -
irmãos
brígida baltar 27.9 - 12.11.2016Galeria Nara Roesler | Rio de Janeiro presents Irmãos (siblings), the first exhibition of Brígida Baltar at the Rio venue and the fifth, since she...Read more -
o corpo e a obra de arte
marcos chaves, karin lambrecht, brígida baltar, alice miceli, paulo bruscky, raul mourão, bruno dunley, melanie smith, vik muniz, rodolpho parigi, antonio dias, berna reale, virginia de medeiros, rené francisco, xavier veilhan, carlito carvalhosa 20.2 - 26.3.2016Appropriations and interpretations of human and natural forms provide unifying thread in group show The Body and the Work of Art, set to open on...Read more -
voar
brígida baltar 7.2 - 17.3.2012Galeria Nara Roesler opens its 2012 exhibition season with Voar, a solo exhibition by Brígida Baltar. The carioca artist will showcase her ongoing research developed during her solo show at Oi Futuro, in Rio de Janeiro in 2011 with works that suggest suspensions, falls, and vertigo, exploring the themes of theatricality.Read more
News
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livros de artista na coleção itaú cultural
brígida baltar, marcelo silveira 25.10.2022On October 25th (Tuesday), at www.livrosdeartista.itaucultural.org.br , Itaú Cultural will make available the virtual exhibition Livros de Artista na Coleção Itaú Cultural, which allows...Read more -
arte é bom
artur lescher, brígida baltar, carlito carvalhosa, marcos chave and raul mourão 30.9.2022A curadoria da mostra é de Daniela Thomas e Têra Queiroz , com realização da Dueto Produções . São dezenas de obras e instalações que...Read more -
arte sonora
antônio dias and brígida baltar 15.8.2022The UFMG Cultural Center invites you to the opening of the Arte Sonora exhibition, by artists Amir Brito Cadôr and Ulisses Carvalho, next Friday, August...Read more -
afago
brígida baltar 8.8.2022Brígida Baltar is participating in the group exhibition Afago curated by Marcelo Campos at S esc Quitandinha , Rio de Janeiro. The exhibition will be...Read more -
copacabana – mar de memórias
brígida baltar na galeria do sesc copacabana 18.2.2022In 2018, Brígida Baltar presented A carne do mar [The Flesh of the Ocean], a solo show curated by Marcelo Campos at Nara Roesler São...Read more
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lançamento brígida baltar: filmes
brígida baltar 16.12.2021Nara Roesler Rio de Janeiro invites you to the book launch of 'Brígida Baltar: Filmes', a publication that presents a complete panorama of Brígida Baltar's...Read more -
crônicas cariocas
brígida baltar, cristina canale, elian almeida 19.10.2021Crônicas Cariocas, Museu de Arte do Rio's main exhibition on its annual calendar, opens its doors with more than 600 works by more than a...Read more -
composições para tempos insurgentes.
brígida baltar, tomie ohtake 19.10.2021Works by Brígida Baltar and Tomie Ohtake are currently in Composições para tempos insurgentes, a group exhibition curated by Beatriz Lemos, Keyna Eleison, and Pablo...Read more -
mecarõ. l'amazonie dans la collection petitgas
alberto baraya, brígida baltar 3.3.2020Works by Alberto Baraya and Brígida Baltar participate in the exhibition MECARÕ. L'Amazonie in the Petitgas collection [MECARÕ. The Amazon in the Petitgas collection], at...Read more -
brígida baltar: filmes
brígida baltar 15.10.2019Since the early 1990s, artist Brígida Baltar has performed works and actions based on delicate poetic gestures, aimed at capturing fugitive materialities and investigating the...Read more
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estratégias do feminino
brígida baltar, virginia de medeiros 15.10.2019Brígida Baltar e Virginia de Medeiros participate in the exhbition Estratégias do Feminino, from Farol Santander . The exhibit brings a selection of 95 works,...Read more -
filmes e vídeos de artistas na coleção itaú cultural
brígida baltar, paulo bruscky 16.9.2019Brígida Baltar e Paulo Bruscky participam da exposição Filmes e Vídeos de Artistas na Coleção Itaú Cultural no Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio (MAM...Read more -
o tempo das coisas - mostra rumos 2017-2018
brígida baltar 13.9.2019Brigida Baltar integra a exposição O Tempo das Coisas – Mostra Rumos (2017-2018), no Itaú Cultural. Desde a década de 1990, a artista confecciona vídeos...Read more -
7ª edição do prêmio indústria nacional marcantonio vilaça
brígida baltar, cristina canale, karin lambrecht 30.8.2019Brígida Baltar, Cristina Canale e Karin Lambrecht participam da exposição junto aos 30 finalistas da 7ª edição do Prêmio Indústria Nacional Marcantonio Vilaça. A premiação,...Read more -
ambiental: arte e movimentos
brígida baltar, cássio vasconcellos, artur lescher 29.8.2019Brígida Baltar, Cássio Vasconcellos e Artur Lescher participam da exposição Ambiental: arte e movimentos. Com curadoria de Cauê Alves, professor universitário e curador chefe do...Read more
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narrativas em processo – livros de artista na coleção itaú cultural
brígida baltar 14.6.2019A artista Brígida Baltar integra a itinerância da exposição Narrativas em Processo – Livros de Artista na Coleção Itaú Cultural, que chega ao Palácio das...Read more -
disco é cultura: o disco de vinil na arte contemporânea brasileira
antonio dias, brígida baltar, cao guimarães, ogrivo, paulo bruscky 17.4.2019A exposição coletiva Disco é Cultura: o disco de vinil na arte contemporânea brasileira, com curadoria de Chico Dub, analisa a influência do disco de...Read more -
alegria – a natureza-morta nas coleções mam rio
brígida baltar, karin lambrecht 11.4.2019Antonio Dias, Brígida Baltar, Karin Lambrecht, Marcos Chaves e Raul Mourão participam da coletiva Alegria – A Natureza-Morta nas Coleções MAM Rio. Com curadoria de...Read more -
studiolo XXI
brígida baltar 10.4.2019Brígida Baltar participa da exposição coletiva Studiolo XXI – desenho e afinidades, em Évora, Portugal. Com curadoria de Fátima Lambert, a mostra reúne trabalhos onde...Read more -
brígida baltar - dois vídeos
brígida baltar 11.3.2019A carioca Brígida Baltar abre, ao lado do escultor Angelo Venosa, a programação de exposições em 2019 na Uerj. A artista ocupará a Galeria Gustavo...Read more
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mulheres na coleção mar
brígida baltar, berna reale, lucia koch, tomie ohtake, virgínia de medeiros 6.11.2018Inspired by the Festival Mulheres do Mundo (Women of the World), of which MAR is a strategic partner, Mulheres na Coleção Mar presents a cut...Read more -
é concebível que meus olhos estivessem abertos
brígida baltar 29.10.2018The selection of videos follows a line that looks for psychic and social issues about how people who have more or less control, and who,...Read more -
pequenas escalas
brígida baltar 23.10.2018Project contemplated with the Funarte Conexão Circulação Artes Visuais - Visual Acts Funarte Brasília / AM - Centro de Artes Visuais Galeria do Largo, Pequenas...Read more -
cá entre nós
brígida baltar, marcos chaves, eduardo coimbra, raul mourão 4.7.2018Com curadoria de Paula Terra-Neale, Cá entre nós apresenta uma seleção de obras históricas e inéditas de nove artistas que emergiram no cenário artístico carioca...Read more -
fiz um vídeo pra que você entenda de uma vez por todas
berna reale, brígida baltar, paulo bruscky 13.6.2018Promovida pela Divisão de Artes Plásticas da Universidade Estadual de Londrina (DaP/UEL) e com curadoria de Danillo Villa e Elke Coelho, 'Fiz um vídeo pra...Read more
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constelar
brígida baltar 24.8.2017O Pró-Saber convida para a abertura da exposição 'Constelar' que comemora com arte e alegria três décadas de trabalho pela educação de qualidade. A exposição...Read more -
disco é cultura: o disco de vinil na arte contemporânea brasileira
cao guimarães, brígida baltar, antonio dias, o grivo 14.8.2017A exposição coletiva Disco é Cultura: o disco de vinil na arte contemporânea brasileira, com curadoria de Chico Dub (do Festival Novas Frequências), analisa a...Read more -
espólios
brígida baltar 10.1.2017http://www.casafrancabrasil.rj.gov.br/Read more -
clube de colecionadores de gravura e fotografia do MAM são paulo
berna reale, brigida baltar, paulo bruscky 20.12.2016 -
em polvorosa
abraham palatnik, angelo venosa, antonio dias, brígida baltar, carlito carvalhosa, cristina canale, eduardo coimbra, hélio oiticica, karin lambrecht, marcos chaves, milton machado, paulo bruscky, raul mourão, vik muniz 10.8.2016http://mamrio.org.br/exposicoes/em-polvorosa/Read more
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corpo e interferência
brígida baltar 27.7.2016http://www.sescsp.org.br/programacao/96918_EXPOSICAO+CORPO+E+INTERFERENCIARead more -
pavilhão casa frança brasil
brígida baltar 14.7.2016http://www.casafrancabrasil.rj.gov.br/?page_id=166Read more -
lupa: ensaios audiovisuais
antonio dias berna reale, brígida baltar 27.6.2016http://www.mao.org.brRead more -
clube de gravura: 30 anos
brígida baltar, karin lambrecht 15.6.2016http://mam.org.br/exposicao/tres-decadas-de-arte-brasileira/Read more -
international series: contemporary artists from brazil
brígida baltar, raul mourão, sérgio sister, vik muniz 19.5.2016http://tcva.org/exhibitions/1868Read more
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filmes e vídeos de artistas na coleção itaú cultural
brígida baltar, cao guimarães, paulo bruscky 9.3.2016http://www.itaucultural.org.br/programe-se/agenda/evento/filmes-e-videos-de-artistas-na-colecao-itau-cultural-3/Read more -
filmes e vídeos de artistas -- coleção itaú cultural
brígida baltar and cao guimarães 9.11.2015http://www.iberecamargo.org.br/site/exposicoes/exposicoes-detalhe.aspx?id=186Read more
Press
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objet trouvé: luis pérez-oramas curates a poetic and subtle group exhibition at galeria nara roesler
cynthia garcia, Newcity Brasil 10.12.2019 -
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brígida baltar
Paulo Mendel, BlankTape -
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do pó ao pó
Thiago Barros, O Povo -
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alto relevo
Leandro Fazolla, Das Artes 19.9.2014
Video
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co/respondences: brazil and abroad | nara roesler new york
19.7.2023Nara Roesler New York is pleased to present Co/respondences: Brazil and Abroad , a group show curated by Luis Pérez-Oramas where works by major Brazilian...Read more -
brígida baltar (1959–2022): to make the world a shelter
brígida baltar 9.3.2023Nara Roesler is pleased to present the first solo exhibition of Brazilian artist Brígida Baltar in New York. Brígida Baltar (1959–2022): To Make the World...Read more -
the fold in the horizon | nara roesler new york
marcos chaves 3.7.2022Nara Roesler New York is pleased to present The fold in the horizon , a group exhibition curated by artist Marcos Chaves. The show brings...Read more -
brígida baltar
brígida baltar 6.10.2020 -
estruturas encontradas
curadoria de luis pérez-oramas 5.12.2019It is with great pleasure that Galeria Nara Roesler | São Paulo presents Estruturas Encontradas [Found Structures], a group exhibition bringing together artworks by Brígida...Read more