Antônio Poteiro [Antônio Batista de Souza]
1925, Santa Cristina da Posse, Braga, Portugal | 2010, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
Antônio Batista de Souza arrived in Brazil as an infant. He lived in São Paulo, Minas Gerais and among the Carajás Indians on Bananal Island. In 1955, he settled permanently in Goiânia (GO). He worked as a cistern digger, baker, cook and cleaner before starting a pottery business in Araguari with his father, the ceramist Américo de Souza who made pots and other household items. This was why the nickname Poteiro was added to his name. From the development of the skill to make pots came a desire to produce more sculptural forms from clay. Poteiro carved saints, large urns with embossing, animals associated with the sacred, dreams that generate humanity. Rarely has the marriage of an earth art with themes of the creation of the world found an interpreter as extraordinary as Poteiro. “There is a Baroque theatricality in his work”, writes critic Aline Figueiredo.
In fact, a large part of his work follows a religious theme. In 1973, inspired by Siron Franco, Poteiro started painting directly on canvas. He had no previous drawing experience but in a dramatic way began using primary colors with masterful balance. In addition to his religious focus, there is a sense of political criticism in many his works. In one of his “Last Suppers” drawings, for example, the table decoration is made with dollar and pound notes. “In painting”, he declares in a 1977 interview with Frederico de Morais, “I use the same themes as ceramics: God-only, God-scale, a handful of saints, regional themes, horseback riding, cirandas all with a little bit of fantasy out of my head”. His work, although numerous, demonstrates a high level of achievement which places him among the most important artists in the country. Poteiro gained international prominence. He participated twice in the São Paulo International Biennial (1981 and 1991), exhibited in more than twenty countries and received numerous awards in art salons with wide recognition from the critics.
Source: Pequeno Dicionário do Povo Brasileiro, século XX | Lélia Coelho Frota – Aeroplano, 2005
Individual Exhibitions:
2020 Poteiro - A tribute, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2014 The Brazil of Poteiro, Museu de Artes Brasil-Estados Unidos (Mabeu), Belém
2012 Tribute to Antônio Poteiro, MAG - Art Museum of Goiânia, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
2010 Discovering the Brazil of Porteiro, Museu Nacional da República, Brasília
2000 500 Years of Brazil by Antonio, the Brazilian Poteiro, Teatro Nacional Cláudio Santoro, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1997 Antônio Poteiro, Galeria Nara Roesler, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1996 Antônio Poteiro, Manoel Macedo Art Office, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
1996 33 Years Retrospective: Ceramics and Painting, Jaime Câmara Foundation, Casa Grande Gallery, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
1994 Antônio Poteiro, São Paulo Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1991 Antônio Poteiro, French Embassy: Galeria Le Corbusier, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1987 Antônio Poteiro, Embassy of Portugal: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1987 Antônio Poteiro, Casino Art Gallery, Estoril, Portugal
1987 Antônio Poteiro, Varsailles Art Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1986 Antônio Poteiro, Brazilian-American Cultural Institute, Washington, United States
1985 Antônio Poteiro, Bonino Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1985 Antônio Poteiro, Guayasamin Foundation, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1985 Antônio Poteiro, Guayasamin Foundation, Quito, Ecuador
1985 Antônio Poteiro, Guayasamin Foundation, Cuenca, Ecuador
1984 Antônio Poteiro, São Paulo Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1983 Antônio Poteiro, Bonino Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1982 Antônio Poteiro, Oscar Seraphico Art Gallery, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1981 Antônio Poteiro, Bonino Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Collective Exhibitions:
2021 They Were Already Here, Galeria Base, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2021 Raw State, Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
2020 Highlights, Museu de Arte Moderna de Rio de Janeiro MAM-RJ, Rio de Janeiro
2019 The Sacred on the Modern Brazilian Art, Museu de Arte Sacra de São Paulo (MAS), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2016 A Certain Look - Celma Albuquerque Collection, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2016 Between looks: poetics of the Brazilian soul, Museu Afro-Brasil, São Paulo
2009 The Art of Collecting You, Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Mato Grosso do Sul MARCO, Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande
2009 Brazil Brazilian, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB São Paulo), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2008 Four Generations, Fundação Jaime Câmara, Goiás, Goiânia
2007 Siron Franco e Antônio Porteiro, Goiás, Goiânia
2005 Encounters and Reuniions in Naif Art: Brazil-Haiti, Museu de Arte Brasileira (MAB-FAAP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2005 Encounters and Reuniions in Naif Art: Brazil-Haiti, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB Brasilia), Brasilia, Brazil
2004 22 Exhibitions of Contemporary Artists, Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, RJ
2003 Paper and Tridimensional, Galeria Arvani Arte, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2003 Brazilianart Project, Almacén Galeria de Arte, Rio de Janeiro
2003 Humanities, Galeria Tina Zappoli, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2003 Humanities, Tina Zappoli Gallery, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2003 Treasures of the Caixa: Brazilian modern art in the collection of Caixa, Conjunto Cultural da Caixa, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2002 Art that Unites: diversity and confluence: Brazil- Europe, Museu de Arte de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
2002 6º Biennial of Brazil Folk Art, Piracicaba, São Paulo
2002 Folk Art of Brazil, Caixa Cultural São Paulo, SP Brazil
2002 Pop Brazil: popular and the popular in art, CCBB, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2001 Shape-and-Color as Light in the Naïfs, Itaú Cutural Gallery Brasília, DF, Brazil
2001 Shape-and-Color as Light in Naïfs, Itaú Cutural Gallery, Penápolis, SP, Brazil
2000 Brazilian Ceramic: the construction of a language, Centro Brasileiro Britânico, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2000 Trajectories and Profiles: the art from Goiania at MAC collection, Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Goiás, Goiânia
2000 “Brasilidades”, Light Centro Cultural, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2000 Brazil + 500 Rediscovery Exhibition, Biennial Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2000 Brazilian Ceramics: building a language, British Brazilian Center, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1998 Exhibition of the Caixa Collection, Conjunto Cultural da Caixa, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
1998 16th National Exhibition of Fine Arts, MAM / RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1998 Exhibition of the Caixa Collection, at the Caixa Cultural Complex, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1997 Exhibition of the Caixa Collection, Caixa Cultural Complex, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
1997 Parallel Exhibition, Caixa Economica Federal Museum, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
1997 Exhibition of the Caixa Collection, Caixa Cultural Complex, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1996 Brasilianische Kunst der Gegenwart, Bayer AG - Foyer Hochhaus W1, Leverkusen, Germany
1996 Brasilianische Kunst der Gegenwart, Bayer AG - Feierabendhaus, Dormagen, Germany
1996 Contemporary Brazilian Art, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1995 Brasília Collections, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Itamaraty Palace, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1995 Sons of Abaporu, Art of Brazil, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 Naïf Painting, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Lisbon, Portugal
1993 3º Biennial Art of Goáis, Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Goiás, Goiânia
1993 People of the Earth, Galeria Jacques Ardires, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1992 A. Poteiro, Lorenzato, Rodelnégio, Manoel Macedo Art Gallery, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
1992 Long live the Brazilian People, MAM / RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1991 21st São Paulo International Biennial, Biennial Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1990 Painting, Presence and People in Brazilian Art, Museu da Casa Brasileira, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1989 3rd Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba
1988 The Fascinating World of Naive Painters, Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1988 Primitive Brazilian Painting Exhibition, The Ginza Art Space, Tokyo, Japan
1987 Brazil, Art Populaire Contemporain, Grand Palais, France, Paris
1987 Brazil-Folk Art, Galeria Bàb Rouah, Rabat, Morocco
1985 16th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1984 7th National Exhibition of Plastic Arts, MAM / RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1983 80 Years of Brazilian Art, Clóvis Salgado Foundation, Palácio das Artes, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
1983 80 Years of Brazilian Art, MACC, Campinas, SP, Brazil
1983 80 Years of Brazilian Art, MAC / PR, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
1983 14th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1982 80 Years of Brazilian Art, MAB / FAAP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1981 16th International Biennial of São Paulo, Fundação Bienal, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1980 4th Biennale International Naïf, Lombardia, Italy
1980 4th Biennale International Naïf, Fiera, Italy
1980 4th Biennale International Naïf, Ente, Italy
1980 Naïf Painting Salon, Cassino Estoril Art Gallery, Estoril, Portugal
1980 Collective, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Philippines
1980 Collective, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Romania
1980 Collective, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Hannover, Germany
1980 People of the Earth, Paço das Artes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1980 Collective, promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Düsseldorf, Germany
1978 Four Artists from Goiás, Institute of Higher Studies, Mexico City, Mexico
1978 Four Artists from Goiás, Casa de Cultura de Monterrey, Mexico City, Mexico
1978 Four Artists from Goiás, Instituto Ateneu Fuentes de Saltillo, Mexico City, Mexico
1978 Ceramics and Painting, SESC Activity Center, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1978 Brazilian Naïf Painters, Naïve Art Gallery, San Francisco, United States
1978 1st Latin American Biennial of São Paulo, Biennial Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1976 Brazilian Popular Art / Jacques de Benqué Collection, MAM / RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1976 13th National Biennial, Biennial Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1976 Ceramics of the SESI Salon, SESI, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1974 1st Biennale International Naïf, Como, Italy
1972 Ceramics collective, Salomé Gallery, New Orleans, United States
1968 Ceramics, Museum of Popular Art, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1967 Ceramics, Museum of Salvador, Salvador, BA, Brazil
Public Collections:
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
MAM Rio, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
MAM SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Museu da Casa Brasileira, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Municipal Museum of Obidor, Obidor, Portugal
Selected Publications:
2021 Estado Bruto, Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
2020 Realces, Museu de Arte Moderna de Rio de Janeiro MAM-RJ, Rio de Janeiro
2020 Poteiro - A tribute, Vilma Eid e Ana Avelar, Lis Gráfica, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2016 A Certain Look exhibition catalog - Celma Albuquerque Collection, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2005 Small Dictionary of the Art of the Brazilian People - 20th century, Lélia Coelho Frota, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2002 The World of Brazilian Popular Art, Angela Mascelani, Casa do Pontal Museum, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2000 Brazil + 500 Rediscovery Exhibition: Popular Art, Catalog, Biennial Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1996 Fine Arts Brazil 96 - Júlio Louzada
1992 Fine Arts Brasil 92, Júlio Louzada
1990 L'Arbre ET Les NAFS, Jacques Brosse, Ed. Max Fourny, France
1987 Brazil Popular Art Today, MINC, Brazil / France Project, Paris, France
1987 La Cité et les Naifs, Gilles Mermet, Msée D "Art NAIF de L" Ile de France, Paris, France
1986 From the Collection - The Paths of Brazilian Art, Frederico de Moraes, Ed. Júlio Bogoricin Imóveis, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1985 Artists of Brazilian Ceramics, Jacob Klintowitz, Ed. Raízes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1985 The Midwest, Alain Draeger, with text by Bernardo Elis and Aline Figueredo, Banco Francês e Brasileiro S.A., Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1984 Study on Antônio Poteiro, Ilka Canabrava, Fundação Getúlio Vargas - FGV, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1983 General History of Art in Brazil, Walter Zanini, Ed. Walter Moreira Sales Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1982 Ceramic Art in Brazil, Mary Di Yori, I Ibero-American Congress on Ceramics, Glass and Refractories, Malaga, Spain
1980 Ceramic Art in Brazil, Pietro Maria Bardi, Ed.Banco Sudameris Brasil S.A., São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1979 Fine Arts in the Midwest, Aline Figueredo, Ed. Museum of Art and Popular Culture, UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil
1978 Aspects of Brazilian Primitive Painting, Flávio de Àquino, Scala Editora, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1972 Regional division for the state and defense of folklore in the state of Goiás, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
