Carmélio Rodrigues Cruz

(Brazilian, born 1924)

ABSTRACT IN RED

Oil on Canvas

33 x 32¾ Inches

Signed Twice, Verso, 'Carmélio' and 'Carmélio Cruz'

 

Carmélio Rodrigues Cruz first studied art with the Brazilian painter, Jacinto de Souza (1935-1940). In 1944, he was invited to participate in the Sociedade Cearense de Artes Plásticas (SCAP), alongside other Latin American Modernists including Antonio Bandeira and Aldemir Martins. In 1947, Cruz moved to Rio de Janeiro, where he taught for three years at the Brazilian Design Association. In 1951, he was granted his first solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (Resende). In 1963, he made the documentary 'O Fogo' and, in the same year, was appointed set designer for the film 'Pluft o Fantasminha', for which he received the SACI Award and the Governor's Award from the State of São Paulo.

 

Over the course of a long and distinguished career as painter, cinematographer and set designer, Carmélio Cruz exhibited widely and with success and was the recipient of numerous prizes, medals and juried awards. In 1969, writing of his career as an artist, the critic Theon Spanudis said: "Starting from some of Paul Klee's plastic experiences, in recent years (Cruz) has developed a sui generis painting, which is characterized by the happy marriage of two different elements; a rhythmic, linear element, which invades the canvas and subdivides it rhythmic segments, and a chromatic, diffuse element, finding in his works 'poetic evocations of ancient walls, abandoned walls, walls with moss, and the melancholy of inner cities with their humble rhythmically serial farmhouses'". (Pontual, Roberto; Dictionary of Plastic Arts in Brazil; text by Mário Barata et al. Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian Civilization, 1969).

 

Solo Exhibitions:

1951 - Resende RJ - Solo, Museum of Modern Art

1962 - São Paulo SP - Solo, Vila Rica Gallery

1964 - São Paulo SP - Solo, São Luís Gallery

1965 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at the São Luís Gallery

1965 - Rio de Janeiro - Solo, Goeldi Gallery

1973 - Rio de Janeiro - Solo, Praça Gallery

1974 - Rio de Janeiro - Solo, Praça Gallery

1977 - Rio de Janeiro - Solo, Domus Gallery

1983 - São Paulo SP - Solo,Tableau Plastic Arts

1985 - Campinas SP - Solo, Croqui Gallery

1986 - São Paulo SP - Solo, Seta Gallery

1989 - CE Fortress - Carmélio Cruz: Da Cor da Luz do Sol

 

Group Exhibitions

1946 - CE Fortress - 2nd April Room

1948 - CE Fortress - 4th April Room

1951 - São Paulo SP - 1st International Biennial of São Paulo,

1953 - São Paulo SP - 2nd International Biennial of São Paulo

1955 - São Paulo SP - 3rd International Biennial of São Paulo,

1955 - São Paulo SP - 4th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna, at Galeria Prestes Maia

1956 - São Paulo SP - 5th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna, at Galeria Prestes Maia - bronze medal

1957 - São Paulo SP - 6th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna, at Galeria Prestes Maia - acquisition prize

1958 - São Paulo SP - 47 Artists of the Leirner Prize for Contemporary Art, at the Folhas Art Gallery

1958 - São Paulo SP - 7th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna, at Galeria Prestes Maia - acquisition prize

1959 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 8th National Salon of Modern Art

1959 - São Paulo SP - Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna

1960 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 9th National Salon of Modern Art

1960 - São Paulo SP - Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna

1961 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 10th National Salão de Arte Moderna

1961 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Formiplac Prize, não MAM/RJ

1961 - São Paulo SP - 10th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna, at Galeria Prestes Maia

1962 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 11th National Salão de Arte Moderna

1962 - São Paulo SP - 11th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna, at Galeria Prestes Maia - small gold medal

1963 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 12th National Salão de Arte Moderna

1963 - São Paulo SP - 7th International Biennial of São Paulo, at Fundação Bienal

1963 - São Paulo SP - Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna

1964 - São Paulo SP - 13th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna - 1st State Government Award

1965 - São Paulo SP - 8th International Biennial of São Paulo, at the Bienal Foundation - Itamaraty Award in design

1967 - Frankfurt (Germany) - Brazilian Desenhistas

1967 - Madrid (Spain) - Brazilian Desenhistas

1967 - Rome (Italy) - Brazilian Desenhistas

1967 - São Paulo SP - 9th International Biennial of São Paulo, at Fundação Bienal

1967 - Tel Aviv - Desenhistas Brasileiros

1968 - São Paulo SP - International Gravura Exhibition, at Faap

1968 - São Paulo SP - 17th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna

1970 - Chicago (United States) - Chelsea Brazilian Art Collective

1970 - New York (United States) - Chelsea Brazilian Art Collective

1979 - São Paulo SP - Theon Spanudis School, at MAC/USP

1991 - CE Fortress - SCAP: 50 Years, Imperial Othon Palace Hotel

1997 - São Paulo SP - A Cidade dos Artistas, no MAC/USP

1999 - São Paulo SP - Everyday/Art. Or Consumption, not Itaú Cultural

2000 - São Paulo SP - Brazil + 500 Mostra do Redescobrimento, at the Fundação Bienal