Cássio Vasconcellos

Cássio Vasconcellos' photography explores the themes of travel and displacement. His nocturnal photographs resemble captivating urban wanderings, marked by vibrant, multi-colored lighting.

Biography of Cássio Vasconcellos

Cássio Vasconcellos was born in 1965 in São Paulo, Brazil. He pursued photography studies at Imagem-Ação school in São Paulo before embarking on a career as a photojournalist. Alongside assignments in journalism and advertising, he pursued personal projects.

Since 1981, Vasconcellos has exhibited his work over 200 times across more than 20 countries.

He has received numerous awards, including the Conrado Wessel Art Prize (2011), the Paulista Association of Art Critics (APCA) Award in 2002 for the best photography exhibition of the year with "Noturnos São Paulo," the Porto Seguro Prize of Photography (2001), and the National Art Foundation (Funarte) Award in 1995.

In addition to his accolades, Vasconcellos has authored several monographs showcasing his photographic oeuvre, providing in-depth insights into his artistic vision and creative process. 

His solo exhibitions include "Dryads e Faunos" at Nara Roesler in São Paulo (2020), "A Picturesque Voyage Through Brazil" at GADCOLLECTION gallery in Paris (2020), "Viagem pitoresca pelo Brasil" at Copacabana Palace Hotel in Rio de Janeiro (2018), "Viagem pitoresca pelo Brasil" at Galeria dotART in Belo Horizonte (2016), and many more.

The artist's photographs adorn prominent private collections in Brazil and are also showcased in esteemed museums worldwide. Notable institutions include the MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil), as well as international venues like the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, France, and the Museum of Fine Arts (MFAH) in Houston, USA.

Currently, Cássio Vasconcellos lives and works in São Paulo.

Cássio Vasconcellos' Art Style

Despite his background as a photojournalist, Cássio Vasconcellos' artistic endeavors are marked by a departure into fictional imagery, drawing inspiration from real-world elements. Blurring the conventional boundaries of photography, he constructs an imaginative iconographic language aimed at critiquing contemporary society. Particularly noteworthy is his utilization of aerial photography, enabling the manipulation of scale and image to challenge viewers' perceptions of reality.

Cássio Vasconcellos' photography brings attention to the rampant consumerism in our society, the overflow of products saturating our daily existence, the uniformity of architectural landscapes encircling us, and the emblematic elements of our culture. Conversely, his work also explores the nature. His pieces encapsulate the mystique of Brazil's vast, untamed jungles, presenting images that challenge viewers with a reality too vast for comprehension.