In 2025, the Brazilian Micro and Small Businesses Support Service in the state of Mato Grosso (Sebrae Mato Grosso) celebrates its 50th anniversary of foundation. As a main anniversary event, the institution is hosting a collective art exhibition dedicated to Mato Grosso people’s artistic production at the National Museum of the Republic, in Brasília- the federal capital of Brazil. Titled as “Lyrical, Critical, and Solar: Visual Arts in Mato Grosso”, the exhibition features 200 artworks produced by 50 local artists. The exhibition opens on March 18th and goes until May 11th, in the main hall. Entrance is free.
Curated by Divino Sobral and Laudenir Gonçalves, with assistance from Rosana Schmitt, and exhibition design by Guilherme Isnard, the collective art exhibition is a collaboration between Sebrae Mato Grosso, the Government of the Federal District and the National Museum of the Republic. It is expected that approximately 50,000 visitors will attend the exhibition in the following days.
This event opens the Sebrae Mato Grosso’s year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary, which will resume in September 2025. The exhibition main focus is to offer visitors a fresh perspective on the Brazilian state’s history through art, showcasing cultural perspectives that are part of the “creative economy setup”, celebrating the visual arts.
The Executive Director of Sebrae Mato Grosso, Lélia Brun, emphasizes the significance of the year of 2025, as it marks half a century of impactful activities on small businesses. “We are celebrating 50 years of a journey that has touched lots of entrepreneurs and contributed to the development of our state. We know the great value Sebrae Mato Grosso has provided for small businesses, and this story deserves to be celebrated. It not only celebrates how we came here but also shows our commitment to the present and the next 50 years” she says, pointing out the presence of art in the entrepreneurial context.
The Director of Sebrae Mato Grosso, André Schelini, shares the mission and commitment of the institution to promote Mato Grosso’s artistic production. “Our commitment is to support Mato Grosso’s entrepreneurs and strengthen the state’s productive sectors. We have a history of dedication to sustainable development and the appreciation of the region’s authentic cultural expressions. We are present in the Pantanal, Cerrado, and Amazon biomes, preserving traditions, customs, and cultures, advising on how small businesses can increase competitiveness and explore new commercial trades in Brazil and abroad”, he says.
About the Exhibition
The curatorial process studied and selected artworks and artists from eight cities in Mato Grosso (Cuiabá, Canarana, Chapada dos Guimarães, Guiratinga, Nobres, Rondonópolis, Rosário Oeste and Várzea Grande), featuring pieces as paintings, watercolor paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photographies, and documentaries. The pieces were chosen from 16 collections, including three institutional, three commercial, and ten private collections.
The exhibition is divided into seven thematic sections: Indigenous Ancestry and Indigenism, Nature: Between Prosperity and Devastation, The Presence of Popular Art, Connection with Religiousness, The City of Cuiabá and “Cuiabania” (a meaning for the cultural perspective from people who are born or live in Cuiabá), The People of Mato Grosso, and The Great State of Mato Grosso.
The exhibition also honors four female figures with great significance to the history of art in Mato Grosso: Aline Figueiredo, Dalva de Barros, Maria Lygia de Borges Garcia, and Magna Domingos. In addition, the artwork of Inês Correa da Costa- the first Mato Grosso successful artist who gained recognition all over the country will be highlighted. In total, 31 living artists and 19 deceased ones will have their artworks displayed, marking the exhibition as a tribute to the strong artistic production of the state.
Curator Divino Sobral, who was responsible for designing the exhibition’s thematic narrative, explains that the title “Lyrical, Critical, and Solar: Visual Arts in Mato Grosso” reflects key aspects of the artistic production. “On one hand, the lyricism expressed in the subjective and emotional interpretation of culture; on the other, the criticism that reveals the artists’ awareness of the reality of the time and space they live in; both qualified as solar, an adjective that indicates the intense brightness of Mato Grosso, which is translated in its art through vibrant colors. It speaks of the heat in art made with smart minds and the beat of the heart”, he explains.
Featured artists
1. Adão Domiciano
2. Adir Sodré
3. Adriano Figueiredo Ferreira
4. Alcides Pereira dos Santos
5. Aleixo Cortez
6. Almira Reuter
7. Andréia Zelensky
8. Antônio Ferreira
9. Benedito Nunes
10. Clínio Moura
11. Clóvis Irigaray
12. Conceição Freitas da Silva
13. Dalva de Barros
14. Djair Careta
15. Eugênia Vieira
16. Gervane de Paula
17. Gonçalo Arruda
18. Gustavo Caboclo
19. Helena Corezomaé
20. Humberto Espíndola
21. Ilton Silva
22. Ignês Corrêa da Costa
23. Jared Aguiar
24.João Pedro de Arruda
25. João Sebastião Costa
26. Jonas Barros
27. José Medeiros
28. José Pereira
29. Liberio Boe
30. Marcelo Velasco
31. Márcio Aurélio
32. Mari Gemma De La Cruz
33. Mário Friedlander
34. Miguel Penha
35. Mike Bueno
36. Nilson Pimenta
37. Osvaldina do Santos
38. Paulo Pires
39. Paty Wolff
40. Rai Reis
41. Regina Pena
42. Roberto de Almeida
43. Ruth Albernaz
44. Sebastião Silva
45. Sitó
46. Turuza Waurá
47. Valdivino Miranda
48. Vitória Basaia
49. Wander Melo
50. Zeilton Mattos
Collective art exhibition “Lyrical, Critical, and Solar: Visual Arts in Mato Grosso”:
Site: National Museum of the Republic, Brasília, Brazil
Opening: March 18th, 7pm
Exhibition period: March 18th until May 11th
Visiting hours: From Tuesday to Sunday, from 9am to 6:30pm
Entrance: Free
The exhibition is a collaboration between Sebrae Mato Grosso, the Government of the Federal District and the National Museum of the Republic.
