Bruno Vilela

Bruno Vilela’s work explores the deconstruction and displacement of ancestral myths, driven by an obsession with rendering the images of the unconscious visible. His practice inhabits the triple frontier between cinema, drawing, and painting, operating conceptually at the intersection of art, psychoanalysis, and religion.

Vilela’s process closely mirrors cinematic production: he prepares locations with actresses, costumes, and specific lighting to photograph a scene, subsequently selecting the definitive image for the canvas. As the artist notes: “Oil paint goes where the lens cannot reach.”

In 2014, acclaimed filmmakers Beto Brant and Cláudio Assis produced a documentary on his work. Vilela is represented in major institutional collections, including the World Bank in Washington, D.C.; the CCSP and Mário de Andrade Library in São Paulo; the National Museum of the Republic in Brasília; MAC Ceará in Fortaleza; and the MAMAM, FUNDAJ, and State Museum in Pernambuco, as well as the National Museum of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro.

In 2024, Vilela produced his first film. The short film O Ano da Serpente (The Year of the Serpent) was featured in prestigious festivals such as Kinoforum in São Paulo and the Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival in Germany.

His institutional solo exhibitions include the Carpe Diem Project in Lisbon; Paço das Artes in São Paulo; MAC Ceará; and the State Museum of Pernambuco. He has participated in group exhibitions at MAC Niterói, the Memorial da América Latina, and MUBE – Marcantônio Vilaça Prize – in São Paulo; Troy House Foundation in London and The World Bank Art Program in Washington.

His gallery solo exhibitions include Anita Schwartz in Rio de Janeiro (2016 and 2019); Lume in São Paulo (2023); Marco Zero in Recife (2025); and Luis Maluf (2026). 

Vilela was awarded the FUNARTE Prize for Visual Arts in 2010. In 2013, he received the award for Best Art Direction for a Short Film at the Triunfo Film Festival. In 2022, he was awarded the gold medal at the Brazil Design Awards for his career monograph, A Persistência da Luz (The Persistence of Light), produced in collaboration with researcher Clarissa Diniz.

Channel on YouTube: 
https://www.youtube.com/@brunovilela3243

Solo exhibitions

2022 – Drama Dream, Galeria Lume, São Paulo/SP.
2022 – Turquesa Escarlate, Garrido Galeria, Recife/PE.
2022 – Drama Dream, Galeria Lume, São Paulo/SP.
2022 – Turquesa Escarlate, Garrido Galeria, Recife/PE.
2019 - Shiva, Anita Schwartz Gallery, Rio de Janeiro/RJ.
2018 - Hermes, Amparo 60 Gallery, Recife/PE.
2016 - The book of São Sebastião, Anita Schwartz Gallery, Rio de Janeiro/RJ.
2016 - Textos Bárbaros, Oscar Cruz Gallery, São Paulo/SP.
2015 - The Green Room, Pombal Palace, Carpe Diem Art and Research, Lisbon/Portugal. 
2015 - ELA, MAC-CE, Fortaleza.
2014 - Animattack, Amparo 60 Gallery, Recife/PE.
2013 - Day party is mourning day eve, Paço das Artes, São Paulo/SP.
2013 - Voodoo Drama, Amparo 60 Gallery, Recife/PE.
2012 - Ouroborus, Laura Marsiaj Gallery, Rio de Janeiro/RJ
2011 - Head Orisha, Mariana Moura Gallery, Recife/PE.
2010 - Bibbdi Bobbdi Boo, CCBNB, Fortaleza/CE.
2009 - Sky of the Sky, State Museum of Pernambuco, Recife/PE.
2008 - Bibbdi Bobbdi Boo, Massangana Gallery, FUNDAJ, Recife/PE.
2006 - Requiem on paper, Murilo La Greca Museum, Recife/PE.
2002 - The Image nº 1, Baobá Gallery - FUNDAJ, Recife/PE.

Collective Exhibitions

2025 – Serpentário, Galeria Marco Zero, Recife/PE.
2023 – About Water & Plants, Troy House Foundation, Londres/UK.
2022 – Maze Mirror. Sergio Carvalho Collection, CCBB Brasília/DF.
2020 – Diplomatic Conversations, Celma Albuquerque Gallery, Belo Horizonte/MG.
2017 - Marcantonio Vilaça Award, MuBE, São Paulo / SP.
2017 - Counterpoint - Sérgio Carvalho Collection, National Museum of Brasília, DF.
2017 - The light that candles the body is the same one that reveals the screen, Caixa cultural/RJ.
2016 - Orixás, Casa França Brazil, Rio de Janeiro/RJ.
2015 - Pictures Tell Facts, Galeria Vermelho, São Paulo / SP.
2015 - Art from Pernambuco, Embassy of Brazil, London/UK.
2014 - Drawing as an instrument. Artist books at Sesc Pompeia, São Paulo/SP.
2014 - Frestas - Triennial of Arts, SESC Piracicaba/SP.
2013 - New Brazil Bolivia Now, Memorial of Latin America, São Paulo/SP.
2013 - From the Paths and Poetry, MAC - CE, Fortaleza/CE.
2012 - Surface subway, Paço das artes, São Paulo/SP.
2012 - Zona Tórrida, Santander Cultural, Recife/PE.
2011 - World Bank Art Program, Washington/USA.
2011 - War Games, Caixa Cultural, Rio de Janeiro/RJ.
2010 - Abre Alas, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro/RJ.
2010 - SESC ARTE 24 hours, Pier da Praça Mauá, Rio de Janeiro/RJ.
2010 - War Games, Memorial to Latin America, São Paulo/SP.
2009 - Pictorial Investigations, MAC Niterói/RJ.
2002 - 45th Arts Exhibition of Pernambuco, Recife/PE.
2002 - Prima Work Project, FUNARTE, Brasília/DF.
2001 - 58th Salão de Arte Contemporânea do Paraná, MAC, Curitiba/PR.
2001 - Macao International Painting Prize, IMM, Macau.

Awards 

2026 - Honorable mention in Athens International Art Film Festival - AIMAFF.
2023 - Brazil Design Award. Gold medal for the artist's career book: The Persistence of Light.
2013 - Best Short Art Direction in the International Film Festival of Triunfo. 
2010 - FUNARTE Prize for Stimulating Artistic Creation in Visual Arts.
2010 – Pernambuco State Cultural Incentive Award.

Collections

CCSP - Centro Cultural São Paulo - São Paulo/SP
National Museum of Brasilia - DF
World Bank - Washington, D.C. / USA.
Dragão do Mar Art Center - Fortaleza/CE.
Centro Cultural do Banco do Nordeste - Fortaleza/CE.
MAMAM, Museum of Modern Art Aluísio Magalhães - Recife/PE.
Joaquim Nabuco Foundation - Recife/PE.
State Museum of Pernambuco - Recife/PE.

Publications

2022 - The persistence of light
2016 – O livro de São Sebastião 
2015 – A Sala Verde 
2014 – Animattack 
2010 – Voo Cego 
2010 – Cabeça de santo

Film Festivals - Official Selections

2026 - Athens International Art Film Festival
2026 - Berlin Lift-Off
2026 - Tokyo Lift-Off
2025 - 36th Kinoforum