Gustavo Nazareno: Afro-Latin Baroque

Brazilian artist Gustavo Nazareno explores the rich intersection of cultural traditions through his compelling paintings that blend historical and contemporary influences. Gustavo Nazareno: Afro-Latin Baroque marks his first solo exhibition in the United States and will be on display at Opera Gallery from March 6-29.

This exhibition features 16 new paintings that delve into the intertwined legacies of faith, art and resilience within Afro-Brazilian and Latin American traditions. Running alongside his Bará charcoal drawing exhibition in Bal Harbour, the collection showcases Nazareno's engagement with cultural syncretism and spirituality.

Rooted in the Afro-Brazilian artistic heritage of Minas Gerais, Nazareno's work bridges the visual traditions of Brazilian Baroque masters with the spiritual aesthetics of Candomblé and Santería. His paintings employ chiaroscuro techniques reminiscent of Caravaggio while incorporating elements from contemporary fashion photography, creating compositions that feel both timeless and relevant.

The artist's figures exist beyond traditional constraints, embodying an ethereal presence that blurs boundaries between the mythical and real. Through this body of work, Nazareno pays homage to the intertwined artistic legacies of Brazil and Cuba—lands shaped by resilience, faith and artistic expression.

By reinterpreting Baroque aesthetics through the lens of Afro-Brazilian spirituality, Nazareno invites viewers into a space of reflection and reimagined histories, continuing to push the boundaries of contemporary painting while engaging with historical traditions.