
Maxwell Alexandre, installation view of “Cantos de esquinas” [Street Corner Songs], 2019, from “Pardo é Papel,” 2018, 126 x 189 inches/Photo: Blaise Adilon, courtesy MAC Lyon

Maxwell Alexandre, “Untitled” from “Novo Poder,” 2021, 126 x 189 inches/Photo: Pedro Agilson, courtesy A Gentil Carioca
The show also makes a reference to the physical presence of Black people in art spaces, analyzing the dynamics of spaces where art is shown and viewed, while delving into the concept that guides his work, intrigues him and tears him apart, which is to connect two disparate universes—the world of art and the world of the favela—that makes up his life experience. Maxwell, as the artist is known, lives and works in Rio’s largest favela, the Rocinha, and has since emerged as one of the exponents of the new generation in the visual arts. The big leap came in 2020 when he was named artist of the year by Deutsche Bank and listed among the thirty-five emerging vanguard talents by Artsy. His work is hailed by Paulo Herkenhoff, Brazil’s greatest living art critic, and is in the collection of Frances Reynolds, a world-class art collector and connoisseur. The Shed show’s catalogue has an interview he gave to famed curator, Hans Ulrich Obrist. In 2023, “Pardo é Papel” will move on to La Casa Encendida of the MonteMadrid Foundation in Spain’s capital.

Maxwell Alexandre, “Untitled,” 2021, from “Novo Poder,” 2021, 63 x 47 ¼ inches/Courtesy A Gentil Carioca
Part of a broader ongoing project, “Pardo é Papel” was first exhibited in his native neighborhood at the Rocinha Sports Complex, in 2017. Two years later its city-hopping tour began internationally in France’s MAC Lyon (Musée d’Art Contemporain de Lyon), then back to Rio at the MAR museum (Museu de Arte do Rio) followed by an exhibition in Brazil’s southernmost state capital, Porto Alegre, at the Iberê Camargo Foundation. With an extension to its title, “Pardo é Papel: Close a Door to Open a Window” landed in London’s David Zwirner Gallery in 2020. The following year, “Novo Poder” (New Power), a sub-series of “Pardo é Papel,” was displayed in Paris at the Palais de Tokyo, then at the Instituto Tomie Ohtake in São Paulo, and finally exhibited in Rio and São Paulo in the locations of A Gentil Carioca, the trendy Brazilian gallery that represents his work.

Maxwell Alexandre, “Bilionário escuro” [Dark Billionaire], 2018, from “Pardo é Papel,” 2018, 126 x 187 inches/Photo: Gabi Carerra, courtesy Instituto Inclusartiz and Museu de Arte do Rio – MAR

Maxwell Alexandre, “Meus manos, minhas minas, meus irmãos, minhas irmãs, e meus cães” (My homies, my homegirls, my brothers, my sisters and my dogs), 2018 from “Pardo é Papel,” 2018, 126 x 189 inches/Courtesy the artist and A Gentil Carioca
In 2018, Newcity Brazil published coverage of the first collective exhibition he participated in in São Paulo, along with artists Marcela Cantuária and Victor Mattina, in a show entitled “Crônicas Urgentes” (Urgent Reports) at FDAG (Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel gallery).
The artist considers his work to be prayers and his studio, a temple.

Artist Maxwell Alexandre/Photo: Gui Gomes
Maxwell, in Brazil we have a saying that became ubiquitous in the last few years: “arte é para todos” (art is for everyone). Is art for everybody?
No way! Contemporary art is a highly coded manifestation devised for the pleasure of an elite whose aim is social distinction. To say art should be for everyone is a populist discourse. In truth what it aims for is that art remain in control of a group of individuals through actions of social differentiation that define who has good taste, culture, who knows how to express in a concise form, to discuss abstract thoughts and values, in order to concentrate symbolical and intellectual capital. To feed the soul is the privilege of those who have food to feed their bodies. It’s a privilege that is cultivated, taught and only for the very few.

Maxwell Alexandre, “Não foi pedindo licença que chegamos até aqui” (We didn’t get here by apologizing), 2018, from “Pardo é Papel,” 2018, 126 x 187 inches/Photo: Blaise Adilon, courtesy MAC Lyon
So, do you view your art as social activism?
My art is about my life.

Maxwell Alexandre, “Se eu fosse vocês olhava pra mim de novo” (If I were you, I’d look at me again), 2018, from “Pardo é Papel,” 2018, 126 x 189 inches/Courtesy the artist and A Gentil Carioca
In Rio, you participate in a cult called A Noiva (The Bride) of the Igreja do Reino da Arte (The Church of the Realm of Art), based at Rocinha, Brazil’s largest favela. Has A Noiva been able to attract residents to the field of art?
A Noiva is an immaterial church with no defined headquarters. The organized cults began in the streets, in town squares and houses of the faithful. This dynamic is a powerful characteristic of Igreja do Reino da Arte. In 2019 we tried having an address, we rented a space in Rocinha, organized our first retreat, with the faithful sleeping in the temple to do their practices. This was possible through a public notice issued by the FUNARTE government agency that got A Noiva closer to the institutional circuit of art. We had weekly cults supported by art galleries such as Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel and A Gentil Carioca. We had talks with artists Laura Lima, Vivian Caccuri, Virgínia de Medeiros, Ronald Duarte, evangelical pastor Henrique Oliveira, etc., and the space was also used by people who were not from the favela community. We had Rocinha residents who were converted to Art, with a few baptized at the temple. But even having headquarters the close distance between Art and the local residents was still very big because Art is not part of local community values nor its culture. For the favela resident, the experience of the sublime is delivered in the raves, we call baile funk, and at the Neo-Pentecostal churches. Contemporary art with its encrypted codes is distant for the community resident. It’s a way of creating intellectual distance, both symbolically and culturally, by the white elite.

Maxwell Alexandre, “Untitled” (detail), from “Novo Poder,” 2021, 125 x 188 inches/Photo: Pedro Agilson, courtesy A Gentil Carioca
In 2018, when I interviewed you for Newcity Brazil during a collective show at FDAG, you mentioned you admired artists Raoni Azevedo, Eduardo de Barros, Primo da Cruz, Samuel Silva and Lucio Fontana. Four years later did the list change?
They still remain in my list but now I’m also influenced by artists such as cosme sao Lucas, Rosalía, Gregório Duvivier, Caetano Veloso, Playboi Carti, Gilberto Gil and Solange.
Now, four years later you’re among the world’s most influential emerging artists—you have a solo show at The Shed in New York, you’ve exhibited in Paris, Lyon, London, you’re having a show in Madrid in 2023. What changed?
I’m now more aware that my role in art is more about directing and connecting things and people: I’m the director. The Maestro. I must be very aware, on top of it all. The success of my operation depends on this. My greatest challenge is to gather the best team and guide them as a good leader in order to anchor my objectives in the best way possible before I leave this life.

Maxwell Alexandre, “Untitled” (detail), from “Novo Poder,” 2021, 126 x 189 inches/Photo: Pedro Agilson, courtesy A Gentil Carioca
To wrap up, as an acclaimed artist what is your advice to a talented youth from Rocinha, who dreams of becoming a famous artist like you once did?
Work with focus and discipline, and with things you have on hand. Even if it’s for only ten minutes a day put all your faith in it and remain faithful to your objective. Faith and hard work go hand in hand, one without the other doesn’t work. Do it and believe. Believe and do it. Faith and hard work!
“Maxwell Alexandre: Pardo é Papel, The Glorious Victory and New Power”
Through January 8, 2023
Alessandra Gómez, associate curator
The Shed, 545 West 30th Street, New York City

Rio-born Cynthia Garcia is a respected art historian, art critic and journalist fluent in five languages stationed in São Paulo. Cynthia is a recipient of the 2023 APCA (Paulista Association of Art Critics) award as a contributing editor of Newcity Brazil since its founding in 2015. Her daughter America Cavaliere works in the contemporary art market and her son Pedro Cavaliere, based in LA, is in the international DJ scene.
Contact: [email protected], www.cynthiagarcia.biz