Biography

Antonio Obá investigates the influence and contradictions within the cultural construction of Brazil, giving rise to an act of resistance and reflection on the idea of national identity. Obá utilizes icons present in Brazilian culture as allusions to racial and political identity, these iconic historical and sometimes religious subjects are explored within his sculpture, painting, installations, and performance. Obá’s own body is central to his research, questioning the eroticization of the black male body and construction of his own identity. Antonio Obá (b. 1983, Ceilândia, Brazil) lives and works in Brasília, Brazil. He had has solo exhibitions at Pina Contemporânea, São Paulo, Brazil (2023); Oude Kerk, Amsterdam, Netherlands (2022); and X Museum, Beijing, China (2022). His work has been included in group exhibitions at 12th Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool, UK (2023); Museum de Fundatie, Zwolle, Netherlands (2023); MASP, São Paulo, Brazil (2022); Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa (2022); IMS Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil (2021); Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (2021); Bourse de Commerce – Pinault Collection, Paris, France (2021); MO.CO, Montpellier, France (2020); Museu de Arte Moderna, São Paulo, Brazil (2019); Museu de Arte do Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2018); Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2017);Casa da América Latina, Brasília, Brazil (2016); and Museu Nacional da República, Brasília, Brazil (2015).