MASP exhibits works from the late period of Leonilson, LGBT+ icon

The São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP) opened on Friday (23) an exhibition dedicated to the last five years of Leonilson’s life (1957–1993), a period known as “Late Leonilson”. The exhibition brings to light the artist’s richest and most complex phase, presenting more than 300 works, including paintings, drawings, embroidery, installations and documents that reveal his political, public and intimate perspectives.

Curated by Adriano Pedrosa and assisted by Teo Teotonio, the exhibition focuses on works produced between 1989 and 1993, a period in which Leonilson developed works considered truly extraordinary. Pedrosa highlights the diaristic and personal nature of the artist’s work, which, through a queer approach, explores political and everyday themes with poetry and lyricism, and LGBTQIA+ visibility.

The works are organized chronologically in five rooms on the first floor of the museum, each dedicated to one of the artist’s years of production. The year 1989 is considered a turning point in Leonilson’s career, marking the beginning of his most mature period. Among the highlights of the exhibition is the monumental “Installation on Two Figures” (1993), originally presented at the Capela do Morumbi in São Paulo, a few weeks before the artist’s death.

The exhibition offers an in-depth look at the legacy of Leonilson, a gay man who is recognized as a central figure in contemporary Brazilian art and a prominent name on the international scene among artists who address queer themes. The works on display reflect not only Leonilson’s personal journey, but also his lasting impact on the history of art.

By Ezatamentchy