Artists

Décio Noviello

Press release

Décio Noviello, (b. 1929 São Gonçalo do Sapucaí, MG, Brazil - d. 2019 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil) a key figure in Brazil's pop art and avant-garde movements, stands as a testament to the transformative power of art in addressing political, cultural, and societal issues. This will be the first exhibition of his in London and will coincide with the Royal Academy’s ‘Brazil! Brazil!’ spring exhibition along with the current renewed interest in South American art.

A self-taught artist, Noviello began his practice whilst enrolled as a cadet during the period of the Brazilian military dictatorship (1964 to 1985). Characterised by political repression, censorship, and widespread human rights abuses, the government gained sweeping powers to dissolve Congress, censor media, and silence critics. Despite the repression, resistance movements emerged, including artists, intellectuals, and activists who used their platforms to challenge the regime and advocate for democracy risking arrest, torture, exile and death. Two pivotal movements—the neo-avant-garde and pop art—redefined Brazilian contemporary art in response to this oppressive climate.

Décio Noviello’s work is embodied by his bold use of colour and playful yet subversive imagery. While he embraced the aesthetics of pop art, he infused his work with a distinctly Brazilian sensibility, incorporating elements of local culture, history and politics, as a celebration of Brazil’s cultural identity whilst critiquing the military regime. He gained recognition by winning several prestigious awards at art salons across the country, his breakthrough came with his participation in the 10th São Paulo Biennial in 1969.