Neves Torres
1932, Conselheiro Pena – MG | 2023, Vila Velha – ES, Brazil
Neves Torres lived in several mining towns during his childhood, but it was in Mutum, where he had moved in 1949, that he spent a good part of his life. In Mutum he became an adult, worked as a mechanic, driver and tractor driver, until he bought a small farm. In this farm he planted coffee and other subsistence goods. Memories of this phase of his life are now portrayed in his works. He got married, but became a widower in 1963. He moved again and went back to work as a tractor driver. Some time later he moved to Vitória in the state of Espirito Santo, where he worked as a locksmith and once again as a tractor driver. He remained in this last job until he retired.
It was after he retired that Neves Torres began to dedicate himself to painting. He sought this activity to amuse himself. Encouraged by some friends who painted on fabric, he experimented with his first brushstrokes by painting dish towels. Only in 2007, with the help of his son, he began to paint on canvas. Since then, not only has he not stopped painting, but he has created his own style of work. Mountainous landscapes, trees, rocks, animals, lakes, rural workers, plantations. Everything that reminds us of the rural environment can be found in this artist's work, represented with simple lines and soft colors. They are memories of his life in Mutum, where each scene was the reality of the day-to-day work or the landscape that surrounded him. In 2008, he sent his works to the Naif Biennial of Piracicaba and was one of the selected artists right in his first participation. His work was featured at the Biennial catalog. Two years later, he participated again in the Naif Biennial and at that time he received the acquisition prize. In 2012, Galeria Estação in São Paulo organized an exhibition entitled “Neves Torres, Paintings”, which was curated by Tiago Mesquita.
Source: Neves Torres Pinturas / Vilma Eid, Germana Monte-Mór; Tiago Mesquita. São Paulo : Lis Gráfica 2012.
Individual Exhibitions:
2012 Neves Torres | Paintings, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Group Exhibitions:
2022 Between the Star and the Serpent, Galeria Leme, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2021 15° Naïf Biennial of Brazil, Sesc Piracicaba, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2017 Manuel Graciano and Neves Torres, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2016 Naif Biennial of Brazil, Sesc Piracicaba, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2014 Neves Torres and Antônio Torres Fine Arts Exhibition, Minas Gerais Assembly Art Gallery, Minas Gerais, BH, Brazil
2014 Almost figure, almost Form, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2012 Histoires de Voir: Show and Tell, Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris, France
2010 Naïf Biennial of Brazil, Sesc Piracicaba, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2008 Naïf Biennial of Brazil, Sesc Piracicaba, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Public Collections:
Serviço Social do Comércio - Sesc, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Cartier Foundation, Paris, France
Selected Publications:
2018 Brazilian popular art: contemporary views, Editora WMF Martins Fontes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2017 Manuel Graciano and Neves Torres, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2016 Naïf Biennial of Brazil, Sesc Piracicaba, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2014 Exhibition catalog Almost figure, almost Form, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2012 Neves Torres exhibition catalog | Paintings, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2012 Histoires de Voir: Show and Tell, Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain, Paris, France
2010 Naïf Biennial of Brazil, Sesc Piracicaba, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2008 Naïf Biennial of Brazil, Sesc Piracicaba, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
