Geraldo de Barros

Biography

Geraldo de Barros was born on February 27, 1923, in Chavantes, Brazil. He was a versatile artist engaged in painting, photography, printmaking, and industrial design. Throughout his career, Barros combined these disciplines to explore innovative artistic forms. He emerged as a leading figure in Brazil's concrete art movement and co-founded the artist group Ruptura. His most notable work is the photographic series "Fotoformas" (1946–1952), which utilized multiple exposures, image rotation, and abstracted forms to convey the phenomenological experience of Brazil's rapid urbanization during the mid-20th century. He lived and worked in São Paulo for much of his life and passed away there on April 17, 1998. Barros's body of work is considered essential for understanding Brazilian modernism and abstract art of the 20th century.