Waldomiro de Deus

Waldomiro de Deus (Itagibá, BA, 1944)

Waldomiro de Deus is a painter and illustrator internationally recognized as one of the most creative representatives of naive art. From humble origins, his childhood and youth were marked by an itinerant life in the backlands of Bahia and northern Minas Gerais, before settling in São Paulo in 1959, where he initially worked as a shoeshine boy. His contact with art came unexpectedly in 1961, when he began painting using materials found in the home of an antique dealer where he worked as a gardener. After being fired, he took his first works to exhibit at the Viaduto do Chá and, surprisingly, sold two of them on the first day.

The support of decorator Terry Della Stuffa, who provided him with materials and a space to paint, was fundamental to his artistic development. In 1966, he held his first solo exhibition at the Armando Álvares Penteado Foundation (FAAP). Waldomiro gained notoriety for both his talent and his irreverent personality, such as when he paraded in a miniskirt down Rua Augusta at the height of the hippie movement. His works caused controversy by depicting religious figures in modern and sensual attire, such as Our Lady in a miniskirt and Jesus in Bermuda shorts, which even led to his persecution by members of the TFP organization. Even so, he maintained his freedom of artistic expression.

Throughout his career, he exhibited in countries such as England, Italy, Belgium, Germany, and the United States, gaining international recognition. Since the 1960s, he has made his living exclusively from his art, depicting daily life, folklore, and legends from the Northeastern countryside, such as the headless mule and the werewolf, as well as eschatological and erotic scenes, with vibrant colors and his own style. A striking feature of his work is the constant presence of three small dogs in every painting, as well as the depiction of human figures, always mixed race, never white or Black.

Considered, alongside José Antônio da Silva and Djanira, one of Brazil's greatest primitivist artists, Waldomiro de Deus received the 1983 Awarding the Statue of Victory prize from the Centro Studi e Ricerche Delle Nazioni in Italy. His work remains a vibrant and authentic record of Brazilian popular culture, marked by originality and creative freedom.

Critiques

"Waldomiro de Deus's painting aspires, above all, to communicate with others. It's a painting of narrative, of implicit story, of recording facts, an image that tells the viewer, knowing, guessing, or hearing and imagining through the eyes. Spontaneous themes, necessary as the artist's vibration, compulsively covering the flat surface of the canvases and walls with the characters, circumstances, and details of the events he wishes to communicate. And the painting of illustration or recording, in keeping with the pictorial style of so many peoples of humanity. Painting connected to the reality of man, his life, and his death. His moving compositions are agitated, like the restlessness that dominates the painter in his eagerness to convey well and, in the religious foundation on which his art is based, to attempt to exorcise evil, attract blessings, and also obtain peace for a tumultuous world. In his works, the drawing flows, populating every space, for as long as there is an untouched area, the artist will have a detail to add in the desire to better explain his message. Whether the forms are limited by dark lines, or free in the pure relationship of color to color, 'flat painting, with dark flesh,' as Walmyr Ayala has already noted and there is no need to repeat, Waldomiro paints the Brazilian people as protagonists of biblical passages. He reinterprets them deliciously, with powerful vitality, giving them a contemporary feel through a caboclo treatment."
Aracy Amaral
WALDOMIRO de Deus: criticas. Introduction by Olney Kruse. São Paulo: s.ed., 1979.

"Waldomiro de Deus Souza is probably the greatest revelation of recent times in Brazilian primitivist painting. In less than two years, he produced numerous works, notable for their pictorial quality as well as their variety. He also revealed an artistic personality of an unusual type among Brazilian primitivists, which promises great future development. (...) Brazilian primitivist painters of rural origin, in general, are characterized by a vision several centuries out of step with contemporary civilization. Artists from the Romantic or Gothic eras frequently appear. Waldomiro surprised with his modernity. He became known for his paintings with astronautical themes, being called the painter of rockets. On the other hand, much of his work relates to life in the interior of Bahia. In some, he has dealt with aspects of the metropolis of São Paulo. Waldomiro has an exceptional interest in the supernatural, which constitutes one of the most frequent themes in his paintings. Like most Brazilian primitivists, he is deeply religious. However, there are very peculiar traits in his religiosity, violent and charged with eschatological forebodings. He has a prophetic temperament, not very contemplative. He curiously combines apocalyptic eschatology with his interest in interplanetary travel."
Mário Schenberg
SCHENBERG, Mário. Pensando a arte. São Paulo: Nova Stella, 1988.

"Waldomiro is a chronicler who uses paintbrushes. His work combines social observation, eschatology, eroticism, religion, mystical fantasy, and political critique. His extravagant imagination doesn't distinguish between reality and imagination, approaching the trivialities of everyday life and utopia with equal ease. Intuitive, Waldomiro's art has deep roots in rural life, combined with urban elements, reflecting the artist's journey. His universe is composed of strong yet naive images, rendered in vibrant colors. The compositions lack perspective; the characters seem to float in space. The figures depicted are always mulattoes, like the artist himself, who thus designates Brazil's racial and cultural miscegenation. The Italian critic Lino Cavallari told him that in this he resembles Gauguin, who went to live in Polynesia and only painted the natives, with brown skin."
Alexandre Agabiti Fernandez
FERNANDEZ, Alexandre Agabiti. "Waldomiro de Deus, a chronicler of paintbrushes". In: Valor Econômico, São Paulo, September 24. 2001.

Testimonials

"I never went to school. I missed that in my life. But even so, from the beginning, my painting blossomed like a gift... I found my second angel: the physicist and art critic Mário Schemberg. He read my works as if they were a book... I loved those beautiful clothing stores. One day, I saw a miniskirt in a window. I didn't know what it was. I tried it on and saw it was for women. The store owner challenged me. She said she'd pay me if I walked out in it in the middle of the street. I didn't think twice. They called me every ugly name... I painted Our Lady in a miniskirt with a garter belt and boots... Like me, Van Gogh was a rebel... Gauguin's dark-skinned figures fascinate me. I don't like painting white or black people. I do draw mulattoes and mixed-race people from Brazil that year." 2050".
Waldomiro de Deus
DEUS, Waldomiro de. "The Brazilian of the Year 2050". Available at: [www.waldomirodedeus.com.br]

"I could do decorative painting and get rich, but I prefer to live in Osasco, among the simple people. I come from these people, I am part of them. I see the problems and the joys of the people, which are themes that are always present in my painting."
Waldomiro de Deus
DEUS, Waldomiro de Deus. "Waldomiro de Deus, a chronicler of paintbrushes" (statement given to Alexandre Agabiti Fernandez). In: Valor Econômico, São Paulo, September 24, 2001.

Solo Exhibitions

1961 - São Paulo, SP - Exhibits his works on cardboard at the Viaduto do Chá. 1964 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at the Directa Gallery. 1964 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at the São Luís Gallery. 1965 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Proposals at the Meia Pataca Gallery. 1966 - Campinas, SP - Solo exhibition at the Campinas Art Museum. 1966 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at Faap. 1966 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at the Directa Gallery. 1967 - Santos, SP - Solo exhibition at the Kiart Gallery. 1967 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at the Da Vinci Gallery. 1967 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at the Sesc Paulista Gallery. 1968 - São Paulo, SP - Solo exhibition at the Aliança Gallery. French
1969 - Paris (France) - Solo exhibition at the Antoinette Gallery
1969 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Solo exhibition at the Voltaico Gallery
1970 - London (England) - Solo exhibition at the Brazilian Embassy Gallery
1970 - Paris (France) - Solo exhibition at the Laval Museum
1970 - Paris (France) - La Maison et son Dócor
1971 - Alabama (United States) - Solo exhibition at the Courtney Gallery
1971 - Bernardi (Italy) - Solo exhibition at the Galleria d'Arte D.
1971 - Bologna (Italy) - Solo exhibition at the Galleria d'Arte La Colonna
1971 - Florence (Italy) - Solo exhibition at the Galleria d'Arte Arno
1971 - Hollywood (United States) - Solo exhibition at the Municipal Gallery of Art
1971 - Jerusalem (Israel) - Solo show, at the Jerusalem Artists' House
1971 - Tel Aviv (Israel) - Solo show, at Zoa-House
1972 - Brussels (Belgium) - Solo show, at Isy Brachot Gallery
1973 - Bologna (Italy) - Solo show, at Cherry Gallery
1973 - Bologna (Italy) - Solo show, at the National Gallery
1973 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ - Solo show, at the MNBA
1974 - Italy - Solo show, at Aldebaran Gallery
1974 - Milan (Italy) - Solo show, at Fel Barcon Gallery
1974 - Milan (Italy) - Solo show, at La Grande Domenica Gallery
1974 - Munich (Germany) - Solo show, at Charlotte Galerie Fuer Naive
1974 - São Paulo SP - Solo show, at Galeria Sesc
1976 - Paris (France) - Solo show, at Galeria L'Oeil de Boeuf
1976 - Salvador, BA - Solo show, at Galeria Panorama
1977 - Osasco, SP - Solo show, at the Osasco Museum
1978 - Osasco, SP - Solo show, at the Osasco Law School
1978 - São Paulo, SP - Solo show, at Galeria Jardim das Artes
1979 - Brasília, DF - Solo show, at Hotel Eron
1979 - Piracicaba, SP - Solo show, at Teatro Municipal
1979 - Salvador, BA - Solo show, at Galeria Panorama
1979 - São Bernardo do Campo, SP - Solo show, at Teatro Cacilda Becker
1980 - São Paulo, SP - Solo show, at Galeria Cravo e Canela
1980 - São Paulo, SP - Solo show, at Paço das Arts
1981 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Solo exhibition, at the Jean-Jacques Gallery
1981 - São Bernardo do Campo SP - Solo exhibition, at the São Bernardo do Campo Art Gallery
1981 - São Paulo SP - Solo exhibition, at the São Paulo Public Prosecutor's Office Association
1982 - São Bernardo do Campo SP - Solo exhibition, at the São Bernardo do Campo Art Gallery
1982 - São Paulo SP - Solo exhibition, at the City Hall
1984 - São Paulo SP - Solo exhibition, at the Jacques Ardies Gallery
1986 - Campinas SP - 25 Years of Painting, at the MACC
1987 - Florianópolis SC - Solo exhibition, at the Masc
1987 - Joinville SC - Solo exhibition, at the Museum of Art
1989 - São Paulo SP - Solo exhibition, at the Itaugaleria
1990 - São Paulo SP - Solo exhibition, at the Portal Galeria Art Gallery
1991 - Goiânia GO - Solo exhibition, at Casa Grande Art Gallery
1991 - Paris (France) - Solo exhibition, at La Grande Bouveche Centre Cultural André Malraux Ville D'Orsay
1995 - São Bernardo do Campo SP - The Mysterious World in the Paintings of Waldomiro de Deus, at Paço Municipal
1999 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Millennium Crossing, at the Museum of Fine Arts of Rio de Janeiro
2001 - Osasco SP - Deforestation, at Osasco Plaza Shopping
2001 - São Paulo SP - Solo exhibition, at Ipren
2004 - São Paulo SP - Solo exhibition, at MuBE
2005 - Osasco SP - Waldomiro: Redress Exhibition, at Unifieo

Group Exhibitions

1962 - São Paulo SP - 1st Folklore Fair, at the Salão do Parque da Água Branca
1963 - Alabama (United States) - Group Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1963 - Texas (United States) - Group Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1963 - Washington D.C. (United States) - Group Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1965 - São Paulo SP - Propostas 65, at MAB-FAAP
1966 - Belo Horizonte MG - Belo Horizonte Art Salon
1966 - Campinas SP - Contemporary Art Salon of Campinas
1966 - Moscow (Soviet Union, now Russia) - Brazilian Artists Group Exhibition
1966 - Paris (France) - Brésil Imprévu, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1966 - Salvador BA - 1st National Biennial of Visual Arts
1966 - São Paulo SP - 15th São Paulo Modern Art Salon, at Galeria Prestes Maia
1966 - Warsaw (Poland) - Brazilian Artists Group Exhibition
1967 - São Paulo SP - 9th São Paulo International Biennial, at Fundação Bienal
1968 - Salvador BA - 2nd Bahia Biennial
1969 - Brussels (Belgium) - Group Exhibition, at Galerie Isy Brachot
1970 - Madrid (Spain) - Brazilian Naive Artists
1970 - Paris (France) - Group Exhibition, at Galerie Antoinette
1972 - Basel (Switzerland) - Third International Art Fair
1972 - Bratislava (former Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia) - Bratislava Triennial - Best National Collection Award
1972 - Jaffa (Israel) - Group Exhibition
1973 - Denmark - Group Exhibition, at Louisiana Museum
1973 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Group Exhibition, at Museu de Belas Artes
1974 - Munich (Germany) - Solo Exhibition, at Charlotte Galerie Für Naive
1975 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Group Exhibition, at Museu de Belas Artes
1975 - São Paulo SP - Festa de Cores, at MASP
1976 - Erba (Italy) - Biennale Internazionale Naif
1976 - Montevideo (Uruguay) - 1st Uruguayan-Brazilian Naive Art Meeting
1978 - Florida (United States) - Group Exhibition, at Grinter Gallery, University of Florida
1979 - London (England) - Exhibition, at Hamiltons Fine Art Gallery
1980 - Atami (Japan) - Brazil-Japan Art Salon
1980 - Brussels (Belgium) - Group Exhibition, at Galerie Dierickx
1980 - Nice (France) - Group Exhibition, at Musée International d'Art Naif Anatole Jakovsky
1981 - Jacareí SP - Jacareí Art Salon
1981 - São Bernardo do Campo SP - Exhibition, at Pinacoteca de São Bernardo do Campo
1981 - São Paulo SP - 2nd São Paulo Salon of Visual Arts, at Paço das Artes
1981 - Tokyo (Japan) - Brazil-Japan Art Salon
1982 - Naples (Italy) - Myth and Magic of Color
1982 - Nice (France) - Group Exhibition, at Musée International d'Art Naif Anatole Jakovsky
1982 - Paris (France) - Le Génie des Naïfs, at Grand Palais
1982 - São Paulo SP - 3rd São Paulo Salon of Visual Arts
1983 - Santo André SP - Art Salon of the Tênis Clube de Santo André
1983 - São Paulo SP - Projeto Releitura, at Pinacoteca do Estado
1984 - Bologna (Italy) - L'Arte Popolares Sudamericana, at Circolo Sardegna
1984 - São Paulo SP - Arte na Rua
1985 - São Paulo SP - 18th São Paulo International Biennial, at Fundação Bienal
1986 - Campinas SP - 25 Years of Painting, at MACC
1986 - São Paulo SP - Projeto Zumbi, 4th Biennial
1988 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - The Fascinating World of Naïve Painters, at Paço Imperial
1988 - São Paulo SP - Brazilian Art, at Pinacoteca do Estado
1988 - São Paulo SP - Brasiliana: Man and the Land, at Pinacoteca do Estado
1988 - São Paulo SP - Afro-Brazilian Hand, at MAM/SP
1994 - Piracicaba SP - 2nd Brazilian Naive Art Biennial, at SESC
1995 - Osasco SP - 2nd Art Exhibition, at Centro Universitário FIEO
1995 - São Paulo SP - Contato, at SESC Pompéia
1995 - São Paulo SP - Projeto Contato, at Galeria SESC Paulista
1996 - São Paulo SP - The World of Mário Schenberg, at Casa das Rosas
1997 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Air: exhibition of visual arts, toys, objects, and models, at Paço Imperial
1998 - Assis SP - On the Paths of the University
1998 - Franca SP - On the Paths of the University
1998 - Marília SP - On the Paths of the University
1998 - Presidente Prudente SP - On the Paths of the University
1998 - Rio Claro SP - On the Paths of the University
1998 - São José dos Campos SP - On the Paths of the University
2000 - Piracicaba SP - 5th Naïfs of Brazil Biennial
2000 - São Paulo SP - Brazil + 500: Rediscovery Exhibition, at Fundação Bienal
2002 - Piracicaba SP - 6th Naïfs of Brazil Biennial, at SESC
2002 - São Paulo SP - Pop Brazil: Folk Art and the Popular in Art, at CCBB
2002 - São Paulo SP - Holy Naivety, at Unifieo
2004 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Everything is Brazil, at Paço Imperial
2004 - São Paulo SP - Naïve Art, at Galeria Jacques Ardies
2004 - São Paulo SP - New Acquisitions: 1995 - 2003, at MAB-FAAP
2004 - São Paulo SP - Everything is Brazil, at Itaú Cultural
2005 - Brasília DF - Encounters and Re-encounters in Naïve Art: Brazil-Haiti, at CCBB
2005 - São Paulo SP - Encounters and Re-encounters in Naïve Art: Brazil-Haiti, at MAB-FAAP