TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary

Rubem Valentim

Rubem Valentim was a Brazilian artist and intellectual whose work bridged modernist abstraction and Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage. Born in Salvador, Bahia, in 1922, Valentim initially studied dentistry but left the field to fully commit to art. Self-taught in painting, he emerged as a key figure in Brazilian modern art during the mid-20th century.

Deeply influenced by Afro-Brazilian religious symbols, particularly those from Candomblé and Yoruba cosmology, Valentim developed a unique visual language that synthesized geometric abstraction with spiritual symbolism. His signature style incorporated stylized emblems resembling ritual objects, or insígnias, which he saw as vehicles of cultural affirmation and decolonial resistance.

In the late 1950s, Valentim moved to Rio de Janeiro, joining a community of avant-garde artists. In the early 1960s, he received a scholarship to travel and study in Europe, spending time in Rome and London. These experiences shaped his international outlook and deepened his commitment to cultural synthesis and humanistic values.

Valentim’s writings, including his 1976 “Manifesto Antropofágico”, called for the recognition of Afro-Brazilian identity in national culture and the arts. His work has been shown in major exhibitions such as the São Paulo Biennial and Venice Biennale, and is part of collections including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP).

He died in Brasília in 1991, leaving behind a legacy of spiritual modernism that continues to influence generations of Afro-diasporic artists

Related works in the collection

Untitled, 1968