Aldo Bonadei

Pioneering and Multidisciplinarity in Brazilian Art

Aldo Cláudio Felipe Bonadei, born in São Paulo in 1906 and passed away in 1974, was a multifaceted artist who made his mark on Brazilian art as a painter, designer, costume designer, teacher, and engraver. His artistic training began under the guidance of Pedro Alexandrino between 1923 and 1928, a period during which he also frequented António Rocco's studio. The friendship with Amadeo Scavone in 1929 and his stay in Italy, where he studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze under Felice Carena and Ennio Pozzi, were crucial for his artistic development.

Returning to São Paulo in the early 1930s, Bonadei actively engaged in the art scene, participating in the Santa Helena Group, the Paulista Artistic Family (FAP), and the Artists' Union. Between 1939 and 1941, he was part of the Musical Culture Group, promoting meetings between artists. His role as a teacher at the Escola Livre de Artes Plásticas in 1949 and the founding of the Art Workshop - O. D. A., alongside Odetto Guersoni and Bassano Vaccarini in 1950, highlight his contribution to artistic education in São Paulo.

Beyond his achievements in painting and teaching, Bonadei also stood out as a costume designer, working on theatrical plays like Nelson Rodrigues' "Wedding Dress" and Ariano Suassuna's "Suspicious Marriage," in addition to designing costumes for films directed by Walter Hugo Khoury. This diversity in his career underscores the breadth of his talent and his ability to move between different forms of artistic expression, consolidating Aldo Bonadei as a central figure in the history of Brazilian art.