Antonio Poteiro

Antônio Batista de Souza, better known as Antonio Poteiro, was born in Santa Cristina da Pousa, Minho Province, Portugal, on October 10, 1925. Son of the Portuguese ceramist Américo Batista de Souza, Poteiro moved to Brazil as a child, initially settling in São Paulo, then in Minas Gerais, before finally establishing himself in Goiânia.

A self-taught artist, Poteiro began his career creating utilitarian ceramics, from which his artistic surname "Poteiro" derived. Over time, he evolved to produce masks and dolls, guided by his teacher Antonio de Melo and the painter and folklorist Regina Lacerda. This transition marked the beginning of his formal career as an artist when he started signing his works.

Poteiro's creations gradually took on the complexity of true ceramic sculptures, distinguished by their elaborate ornamentation and vivid imagination. His refined technique and imaginative richness are visible in both his ceramics and his paintings, which he later embraced, influenced by artists like Siron Franco and Cléber Gouvêia.

Internationally recognized, Poteiro has participated in numerous exhibitions around the world, establishing himself as one of the most appreciated Brazilian artists abroad. Since 1976, he has extensively held individual and collective exhibitions in Brazil and many other countries.

A fervent reader of the Scriptures and an enthusiast of history, Poteiro is known for his ability to create worlds and dreams through his art. He currently lives and works in Goiânia, Goiás, where his studio has become a true laboratory of ideas and creations.

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Photo: https://rtellini.wordpress.com/2010/11/25/o-genio-antonio-poteiro/