Crossroads: Rubem Valentim’s 1960s

Explore the works of Afro-Brazilian painter Rubem Valentim at Crossroads: Rubem Valentim’s 1960s, on view at the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami from November 21, 2024, to March 30, 2025. This marks the first US museum exhibition of Valentim, whose unique blend of modernist painting and geometric abstraction reflects a rich exploration of cultural and spiritual intersections.

The exhibition focuses on Valentim’s work from the 1960s, a decade that saw him split his time between Brazil and Europe. During this period, his paintings, characterized by bold geometric forms and symmetrical compositions, responded to Brazil’s rapid industrialization and political tensions, while also drawing influence from African art and Third World politics. His time in Europe, particularly his encounter with African sculptures, left a significant impact on his work, as seen in the symbolic shapes and totemic forms that began to emerge in his art.

Returning to Brazil in 1967, Valentim developed his “Emblems” series, a radical departure from traditional painting that embraced bas-relief techniques and a minimalist palette. These works reflect his deepening engagement with Afro-Brazilian religious practices, merging abstracted forms with cosmological meanings.

Valentim’s work has been exhibited at major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Venice Biennale. His contributions to modern art continue to inspire and challenge viewers, offering a window into the cultural and spiritual dimensions of abstract art.