Surfaces: Before and After, 2019

Biography

Vik Muniz's (b. 1961, São Paulo, Brazil) body of work explores the limits of representations within visual arts, twinning his production with an urge to grasp the world’s current state of affairs. Using raw materials such as thorn paper, cotton, sugar, chocolate or waste, the artist meticulously composes landscapes, portraits or other depictions offering alternative representations and understandings of these materials and the images they render.

 

According to the critic and curator Luisa Duarte, ‘his work demands a retrospective gaze from the public. In order to ‘read’ his photos, one must question and analyse the process of making, the materials used, as well as identify the original image, so as to attain the meaning of the image. Vik’s work brings into play a series of questions for our ‘regard’ and creates a space for doubt, which is where we build our understanding.’

 

In tandem with his artistic practice Vik Muniz has headed social projects that rely on art and creativity to aid low-income communities in Brazil and has, also produced artworks that aim to give visibility to marginalized groups in society.

 

Vik Muniz lives and works in New York, United States, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Recent solo shows include: Fotocubismo, at Nara Roesler (2021), in São Paulo, Brazil; Vik Muniz, at The Sarasota Museum of Art (SMOA), Ringling College of Art and Design (2019), in Sarasota, USA; Imaginária, at Solar do Unhão, Museu de Arte Moderna de Salvador (MAM-BA) (2019), in Salvador, Brazil;  Vik Muniz: Verso, at Belvedere Museum Vienna (2018), in Vienna, Áustria;  Afterglow – Pictures of Ruins, at Palazzo Cini (2017), in Venice, Italy. He has featured in several biennials, such as the 56th Venice Biennale, Italy (2015); 24th Bienal de São Paulo, Brazil (1998); among others. Recent group shows include: Naar Van Gogh, at Vincent van GoghHuis (2018), in Zundert, The Netherlands; Troposphere – Chinese and Brazilian Contemporary Art, at Beijing Minsheng Art Museum (2017), in Beijing, China; Look at Me!: Portraits and Other Fictions from the ”la Caixa” Contemporary Art Collection, at Pera Museum (2017), in Istanbul, Turkey; Botticelli Reimagined, at Victoria & Albert Museum (2016), in London, UK. His works are included in the collections of: Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS), Madrid, Spain; Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, USA; Tate Gallery, London, UK; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, USA.

Exhibitions

News

Press

  • the skateroom collaborates with vik muniz on eight-color-spectrum skateboard series View article

    the skateroom collaborates with vik muniz on eight-color-spectrum skateboard series

    designboom 18.11.2019
  • galeria em nova york recebe duas exposições de vik muniz View article

    galeria em nova york recebe duas exposições de vik muniz

    G1 – globonews 15.11.2019
  • mostra de vik muniz explora pintura e fotografia Download View article

    mostra de vik muniz explora pintura e fotografia

    Thaís Ferraz, O Estado de São Paulo 24.10.2019
  • see five standout works from frieze sculpture 2019, from vik muniz’s blown-up toy car to a mysterious squirming egg View article

    see five standout works from frieze sculpture 2019, from vik muniz’s blown-up toy car to a mysterious squirming egg

    Javier Pes, artnet news 3.7.2019
  • when art comes along for the ride Download

    when art comes along for the ride

    Carrie Seim, New York Times 25.10.2018
  • encontro estético View article

    encontro estético

    Ubiratan Brasil, O Estado de S. Paulo 30.10.2016
  • trick of the eye: vik muniz plays with perception at galeria nara roesler in são paulo View article

    trick of the eye: vik muniz plays with perception at galeria nara roesler in são paulo

    Ann Binlot, Wallpaper 9.9.2016
  • vik muniz's illusory reality View article

    vik muniz's illusory reality

    Pimploy Phongsirivech, Interview 8.9.2016
  • vik muniz’ artistic sleight of hand at galeria nara roesler, são paulo View article

    vik muniz’ artistic sleight of hand at galeria nara roesler, são paulo

    Charlotte Jansen , MutualArt 31.8.2016
  • um artista em busca de superação

    um artista em busca de superação

    Orlando Margarido, Valor Econômico 26.8.2016
  • the artists' artists

    the artists' artists

    Financial Times 11.6.2016
  • vik muniz entre mestres

    vik muniz entre mestres

    Nani Rubin, O Globo 20.3.2016
  • refazendo a história

    refazendo a história

    Antonio Gonçalves Filho, O Estado de S. Paulo 7.4.2013