About Artist

Elson Júnior – Biography

Elson Júnior is an artist from Salvador, Bahia. His journey began in the Curuzu neighborhood, a renowned hub for Afro-artistic movements in the city. These roots play a significant role in shaping his cultural and intellectual development, molding his unique perspective over the years.

A graduate in Fine Arts from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Elson Júnior has built a distinguished artistic career, earning numerous awards and participating in exhibitions that focus on the Afro-diasporic reality. His work is a poetic expression that authentically and sensitively portrays the contemporary experiences of this social group. Currently, his research is centered on the use of ballpoint pens as a medium.

Through visual arts, Elson Júnior unveils profound layers of meaning, delving into the complexities of Afro-Brazilian identity and exploring themes such as ancestry, resistance, and cultural celebration.

Awards and Exhibitions

  • ExpoNegras – CEPAIA (UNEB) (2007)
  • ExpoNegras – Salão Portas Abertas de Artes Visuais de Jequié (2008)
  • Salão Bahia Marinas (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)
  • Negra Cores – Biblioteca Central do Estado da Bahia (2013)
  • Inflorescência dos Orixás – Cine Solar Boa Vista (2016)
  • Bienal Brazil Black Art – Rio Grande do Sul (2019, 2021)
  • Bienal da UNE – São Paulo (2021)
  • 43rd Salão WALDEMAR BELISÁRIO – São Paulo (2021)
  • Mostra Evento Artísticos Culturais – IFBA (Salvador) (2021)
  • Subúrbio em 3 Atos – Museum of Modern Art of Bahia (MAM-BA) (2022)
  • Zaki and the History of Mathematics – Bienal Internacional do Livro (São Paulo) (2022)
  • PRETO – Antonio Vieira College (Salvador) (2022)
  • FLIM – Marizia Maior College (Salvador) (2022)
  • PARABOLA DO PROGRESSO – SESC Pompeia (São Paulo) (2022)
  • Brasil Futuro – Centro Cultural Solar Ferrão (Salvador) (2023)
  • Bienal Brazil Black Art – 3rd Edition – Centro Municipal de Arte Hélio Oiticica (Rio de Janeiro) (2024)
  • Memórias de Dona Antonia – Acervo da Laje (Salvador) (2023)
  • Collective Exhibition (Acervo da Laje) – Casa das Histórias de Salvador (2024)
  • Favela em Fluxo – Traveling Exhibition – Brazil (2024)