The leading female Brazilian artist working today, Adriana Varejão’s (b. 1964, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) diverse practice explores themes of colonialism, miscegenation and anthropology through a variety of media including painting, sculpture, works on paper, installation and photography.
Varejão has exhibited extensively internationally, including solo shows at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris (2005); Hara Museum, Japan (2007); Museu de Arte Moderna de Sao Paulo, Brazil (2012); and Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2013). Varejão’s work was included in the São Paulo Bienial (1994 and 1998), Venice Biennale (1995), 5th Mercosul Biennial in Visual Art, Brazil (2005), Liverpool Biennial (1999 and 2006) and 12th International Istanbul Biennial, Turkey (2011), among others. In November 2014, the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston will mount an extensive solo exhibition devoted to the artist.
Varejão’s work is included in the collections of the Tate Modern, London; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; Hara Museum, Tokyo; and Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, among others. In 2008, the Centro de Arte Contemporânea Inhotim opened a permanent pavilion devoted to her work in Brazil. The artist lives and works in Brazil.
