José Damasceno (1968, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) studied architecture at the Santa Ursula University in Rio de Janeiro, but he abandoned his cycle of studies to dedicate himself to sculpture. He uses an enormous variety of materials, techniques and media to investigate the field of sculpture, using space as a means of mediation. His works, improbable and poetic, provide the spectator with different perspectives of place.
He received various awards such as Cidade – 14º Salão de Arte de Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil (1989); Unesco Prize pour la Promotion des Arts, Paris, France (1995) and the Waterhouse Prize, in the exhibition Panorama da Arte Brasileira, Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo (1995). Some of his most importante solo exhibitions are: Programa Solo, Rio de Janeiro Museum of Modern Art (2019); Storyboard: José Damasceno – Monográficas, São Paulo Cultural Centre (2012); Rio de Janeiro Museum of Modern Art (2011); Coordenadas y Apariciones, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain (2008); Viagem à Lua, 52nd Venice Biennale, Brazilian Pavillion, Venice, Italy (2007); Vale o Escrito, Projeto Parede, São Paulo Museum of Modern Art (2005) and Observation Plan, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, USA (2004). He participated in the São Paulo Biennale (2013, 2002); New Orleans Biennale, USA (2008), Sydney Biennale, Australia (2006); Venice Biennale (2007, 2005).
The work of José Damasceno is represented in public collections like the Cisneros Fontanais Art Foundation, Miami, USA; Fundación ARCO, Madrid, Spain; Inhotim Centro de Arte Contemporânea, Brumadinho, Brazil; Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro; Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo; Daros, Zurich, Switzerland; MoMA – Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA; The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel; Colección JUMEX, Mexico; Fundación La caixa, Barcelona, Spain and MACBA – Museu d’Art Contemporania de Barcelona, Spain, among others.
PS, November 2020
