Paulo Nazareth

Paulo Nazareth (born Paulo Sérgio da Silva) is a Brazilian artist whose work combines elements of performance, sculpture, photography, and video. Born in Santo Antônio das Figueiras (Governador Valadares), Minas Gerais, he adopted the name "Nazareth" in homage to his grandmother, Nazareth Cassiano de Jesus, a borum (krenaque) indigenous woman. During his childhood, Paulo worked in various occupations, including pig caretaker, housekeeper, street vendor, baker, weeder, and street sweeper. Eventually, he left his job as a janitor to fully dedicate himself to the arts.

Academic Background
In 1999, Paulo enrolled at the Escola de Belas Artes at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), graduating in Visual Arts in 2005 with a focus on drawing and teaching, and in 2006 with a specialization in printmaking.

Career
His greatest artistic influence was the sculptor and popular artist Mestre Orlando, from whom he learned to create "carrancas" (traditional wooden sculptures). In 2005, Paulo was selected for the Bolsa Pampulha grant and, the following year, participated in an artist residency in India. In 2009, he held exhibitions in Indonesia. In 2011, Paulo Nazareth participated in Art Basel in Miami, where he presented the work "Notícias de América" (News from America), one of his most internationally acclaimed works, involving a journey across Latin America on foot and by hitchhiking.

In 2013, Paulo was a guest artist at the 12th Lyon Biennale, where he presented part of the work "Cadernos de África" (African Notebooks). This work, composed of photographs and installations, documents his travels across the African continent and reflects on the great European exploration voyages in Africa. Another notable work is "Produtos de Genocídio" (Products of Genocide), which denounces the extermination of indigenous peoples.

Reflection and Recognition
Paulo Nazareth's work has been widely studied and reflected upon. In 2013, UFMG professor and researcher Maria do Carmo de Freitas Veneroso published an article on his work in the Revista da UFMG. His works are part of several permanent collections, including the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo and the Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro.

Awards
Paulo was a finalist for the PIPA Prize in 2016 and, in the same year, received the Medal of Honor from UFMG in a ceremony presided over by rector Jaime Arturo Ramírez.

Sources:
Text: Blombô research and curation, with the support of artificial intelligence for content writing and structuring.