Antonio Maluf created his first Concrete works in 1951 and soon adapted his designs to a variety of media, such as ceramic tile murals, textile stamps, and posters, like this one. The captivating optical vibrations produced by this poster’s repetition of rectangles catapulted Maluf’s design to victory in the competition held for the poster for the 1st São Paulo Biennial. Launched in 1951, the biennial signaled a desire to make São Paulo an international center of modern art. Its second iteration, in 1953, took place in the then recently finished buildings designed by Oscar Niemeyer in Parque Ibirapuera. A resounding success, the São Paulo Biennial became the most influential international event in the region.

Gallery label from

Sur moderno: Journeys of Abstraction—The Patricia Phelps de Cisneros Gift, October 21, 2019–March 14, 2020

Medium Lithograph
Dimensions 37 × 25" (94 × 63.5 cm)
Printer Imp. Universo, São Paulo
Credit Gift of Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo
Object number 576.1951
Department Architecture & Design

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