São Paulo’s Best Contemporary Art Galleries

The center of São Paulo’s art scene, Museu de Arte de São Paulo, or MASP as it’s more commonly known, towers over the chaotic streets of the city center and is one of the most influential contemporary art galleries in South America. The unique structure was designed by Brazilian-Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi and was inaugurated in 1968, as Brazil – and South America, in general – entered into a new phase of artistic and cultural expansion. The modernist design, which reinvents the brutalist tendencies of South American architecture, makes the museum an architectural attraction in its own right, the extensive permanent collection that MASP holds truly reveals its importance in the contemporary art scene. It was amongst the first galleries in South America to focus on post-World War II works and to celebrate the art of contemporary practitioners in Brazil. Alongside these more recent works, it holds an incredible selection of European masters, which is unrivaled in the Southern Hemisphere. As the premier artistic institution of São Paulo and Brazil, MASP deserves to be considered in the same league as its European and American rivals: MoMA, the Tate Modern, and the Centre Pompidou.

MASP, Avenida Paulista, 1578 – Cerqueira César, 01310-200 São Paulo, Brazil, +55 11 3251-5644

Focused on bringing new artists to international attention, Galeria Zipper is a small but significant player on the São Paulo art scene. It aims to propose a new discourse in contemporary art, one which integrates diverse disciplines and presents the often esoteric world of contemporary art with an emphasis on accessibility and dialogue. The varied platforms of painting, sculpture, photography, video, drawing, installations, prints, and new media are all explored within the gallery space, which has recently held exhibitions by such exciting talents as Camilo Soato and Raphael Escobar.

Galeria Zipper, Rua Estados Unidos 1494, Cep 01427-001, São Paulo, Brazil, +55 11 4306 4306

Described as a reference for the promotion of Latin American art, Baró Galeria is located in the São Paulo neighborhood of Santa Cecília. The gallery aims to establish a dialogue between artists, curators, and cultural institutions, both through site-specific works and curatorial projects. Over the course of its short history, it has transformed itself into a center for artistic debate and discussion, bringing the best artists and professionals from throughout the Brazilian art scene to engage in this ferment of ideas. The gallery is renowned for its work with contemporary artists of the 1970s and 80s, such as David Medalla, Felipe Ehrenberg and Roberto Jacoby, whom it places alongside emerging talents.

Baró Galeria, Rua da Barra Funda 216, 01152-000 São Paulo, Brazil, +55 11 3666 6489

Fusing artistic practice with design, Coletivo Amor De Madre is unique amongst the many independent art galleries populating São Paulo. Its focus on practical objects that are nonetheless imbued with an artistic or creative quality grants visitors a new perspective on the prosaic elements that occupy their living spaces. The gallery also manages a store where many of the items on display can be purchased, thus emphasizing its focus on the practical as well as the aesthetic quality of its exhibited works. This practicality does not preclude innovation, however, and the many objects which one regularly finds on display at Coletivo Amor De Madre are an often beguiling combination of the surreal and the desirable, while the gallery space itself combines the aesthetic of a Scandinavian furniture store with a children’s playground to bewildering effect.

Coletivo Amor De Madre, Rua Estados Unidos, 2174, 01427-002 São Paulo, Brazil

Opened in 2001 under the direction of Márcia Fortes, Alessandra d’Aloia, and Alexandre Gabriel, Galeria Fortes Vilaça’s multifaceted offering combines the best of local talent with international names in a dynamic and exciting exhibition program. The varied nature of their offering means that you can never be sure what to expect from Galeria Fortes Vilaça, as they consistently move from one area of contemporary practice to another, and frequently invite guest curators to assist with exhibitions. Recent exhibitions by the likes of Olafur Eliasson, Mauro Restiffe, and Lucia Laguna have been notable successes, while a sister space, Galpão Fortes Vilaça, opened in 2008.

Galeria Fortes Vilaça, R. Fradique Coutinho, 1500, Vila Madalena, 05416 001 São Paulo, Brazil

Founded in 2010, Mendes Wood DM exhibits both international and local artists in an environment which promotes cultural exchange and critical dialogue. They take into account regional and geographical difference within their offering while also seeking to act as a catalyst for collaboration amongst the diverse artists who exhibit in their space. One of the most exciting gallery spaces on the São Paulo scene, Mendes Wood’s combination of artistic variety, political consciousness, and theoretical debate makes it unique amidst the many contemporary art galleries in the city.

Mendes Wood DM, Rua da Consolação 3358, Jardins São Paulo, Brazil, +55 11 3081 1735