About

Mari Ra (b. 1996) lives and works in São Paulo, Brazil. The artist uses painting to create micro-narratives that re-negotiate formal repertoires and acknowledges visual codes in her own pictorial synthesis. Stemming from the study of certain elements — that can range from the human body, popular costumes and everyday objects to landscape and architecture—, her artworks intersect geometry and unhindered imagination, transfiguring great masses of color and a play on form and counterforms in visually magnetic compositions, at times more suggestive, at others more abstract.

Ra received her BFA at the Instituto de Artes da UNESP, São Paulo (2015-2020) and her MBA in Visual Arts at the Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador (2020-2024). Recent solo shows include “Arrebol”, curated by Daniela Avellar - Galeria Asfalto, Rio de Janeiro (2024), “Truque”, curated by Ariana Nuala - Galeria Bolsa de Arte, São Paulo (2023), “Modernismo desde aqui”, curated by Claudinei Roberto da Silva - Paço das Artes, São Paulo (2023),  “Atlas no 4: Não sou legal, tô te dando mole”, curated by Chico Soll - Massapê Projetos, São Paulo (2023), “17 Abre Alas”, curated by Pollyana Quintella, Deri Andrade e Maxwell Alexandre - A Gentil Carioca, São Paulo (2023). Recent groups shows include “Rá-tim-bum”, curated by Alice Granada - Lapa, lapa, São Paulo (2024), “Sempre deixam a porta aberta”, curated by Guilherme Teixeira - Pluma, São Paulo (2024), “Quase árido”, curated by Uriel Bezerra - RV Cultura e Arte, Salvador (2024), “Sublime Spirit”, Marianne Boesky Gallery, New York (2024),  “Que beleza”, curated by José Augusto e Alexandre da Cunha - Ateliê do artista, São Paulo (2024), “E o palhaço, quem é?”, curated by Renato de Cara - Paço das Artes, São Paulo (2024), “O meio é a massagem”, curated by Mariane Beline - Galeria Simões de Assis, São Paulo (2024), “Programa exposições”, curated by Nilton Campos e Thais Rivitti - MARP, Ribeirão Preto (2023), “Contra-flecha”, curated by Germano Dushá, Rafael (2023), RG e Ariana Nuala - Galeria Almeida & Dale, São Paulo (2023).