Maria Nepomuceno leva tradições ancestrais e técnicas artesanais complexas a um envolvimento inteiramente contemporâneo com o espaço e a estrutura, a forma e o conceito. Utilizando métodos de costura com cordas, contas e trançado de palha, bem como técnicas desenvolvidas por ela própria, a artista vem, desde o início dos anos 2000, explorando as permutações potencialmente infinitas em esculturas e instalações pulsantes que incorporam formas lúdicas e viscerais em cerâmica, madeira, resina e objetos encontrados.
As obras de Nepomuceno são cromáticas, culturais e metaforicamente ricas, evocando animais, plantas, o corpo humano e paisagens que vão do microscópico ao macroscópico. O fato de as esculturas apresentarem uma aparência antropomórfica e orgânica é essencial para a leitura da obra.

A espiral, central ao processo de Nepomuceno, relaciona-se às espirais que ocorrem naturalmente em todo o universo, dando forma tanto a galáxias inteiras quanto ao projeto fundamental da existência, o DNA. Os resultados pretendem condensar o tempo prolongado de sua feitura, ao mesmo tempo em que convidam o espectador a fazer uma pausa, aproximar-se e envolver-se com complexos ciclos de energia e criação.
Maria Nepomuceno pushes ancient traditions and complex craft techniques into a wholly contemporary engagement with space and structure, form and concept. Using traditional methods of rope weaving and straw braiding as well as techniques of her own design the artist has, since the early 2000s, developed a process of sewing coils of coloured rope in spirals. She explores the potentially endless permutations of this adaptable form in sculptures and installations that incorporate beads, playful ceramic forms and found objects of varying sizes. 
Nepomuceno’s works are chromatically, culturally and metaphorically rich, suggesting animals, plants, the human body and landscapes ranging from the microscopic to the macroscopic. That the sculptures appear anthropomorphic and organic is essential to a reading of the work: the spiralling central to Nepomuceno’s process relates to the spirals occurring naturally throughout the universe, giving shape to entire galaxies as well as the blueprint for existence, DNA. The results are intended to harness the extended time of their making while simultaneously inviting the viewer to pause, draw close and engage with complex cycles of energy and creation.
Solo exhibitions 
2026
INFINITA INFINITO, A Gentil Carioca, São Paulo, BR
2025
CUNHÓ, Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, New York, US
2024
EXPIRO, Victoria Miro Gallery, Venice, IT
NASCI DE UMA FLOR, NAC Nichido Contemporary Art, Tokyo, JP
2023
BiG BANG BOCA, Instituto Artium de Cultura, São Paulo, BR
2022
RODA DAS ENCANTADAS, Sikkema Jenkins & Co Gallery, New York, US
DENTRO E FORA INFINITAMENTE, SCAD Museum of Art, Georgia, US
CORDÃO FORTE, LUGAR COMUM, Salvador, BR
2021
REFLORESTA, The Portico Library, Manchester, UK
2018
PELO AMOR, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, BR
VITAL, Sikkema Jenkins & Co Gallery, New York, US
2017
AFETOSYNTESIS, Stavanger Kunstmuseum, Stavanger, NO
2016
SIM, Victoria Miro Gallery, London, UK
COSMICTETA, Barbican Centre, London, UK
2015
O GRANDE ESPIRAL, Espaço Cultural Marcantonio Vilaça, Brasília, BR
UNIVERSO EM EXPANSÃO, Baró Galeria, São Paulo, BR
2014
TRANS, Victoria Miro Gallery, London, UK
APRESENTAÇÃO INDIVIDUAL, A Gentil Carioca at Frieze Art Fair, New York, US
2013
TEMPO PARA RESPIRAR (BREATHING TIME), Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro, BR
SAUDADES DA PINTURA, A Gentil Lá, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2012
PULSO, Eva Klabin Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, BR
SAARA, MEU AMOR! (wall project) supported by Catherine Petitgas, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, BR
TEMPO PARA RESPIRAR (BREATHING TIME), Turner Contemporary, Margate, UK
2011
THE FORCE, Victoria Miro Gallery, London, UK
2010
ALWAYS IN A SPIRAL, Magasin III, Stockholm, SE
NEW WORK, Victoria Miro Gallery, London, UK
HAMMOCKNET, Basel Fair, Basel, CH
2009
AFECTOFLUX, Gallery Karsten Greve, Cologne, DE
VOLTA ART FAIR, New York, US / Drifting, Steve Turner Contemporary Gallery, Los Angeles, US
ESFERA DALVA, A Gentil Carioca Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2008
TEMPORADA DE PROJETOS, Paço das Artes, USP, São Paulo, BR
AFETOSSÍNTESE, Carminha Macedo Gallery, Belo Horizonte, BR
PRÊMIO PROJÉTEIS DE ARTE CONTEMPORÂNEA, Sala FUNARTE, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2006
RESPIRO, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2001
CULTURAL SPACE ARTE SAMÁRIA, Rio de Janeiro, BR
Group exhibitions 
2026
UNTAMED BEAUTY, Nichido Contemporary Art, Tokyo, JP
2025
VICTORIA MIRO: 40 YEARS, Victoria Miro, London, UK
FOLIA, Abdülmecid Efendi Mansion, Istanbul, TR
24TH PAIZ ART BIENNIAL: THE WORLD TREE, Antigua, GT
MATERIAL WITNESS, Rubell Museum, Washington, US
TEA PARTY, Locks Gallery, Philadelphia, US
MATCHING SEATS: A CHAIRWOMAN’S COLLECTION, MAD Brussels, Brussels, BE
CONCORDAR EM DISCORDAR, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2024
VORTIC CURATED: FABRIC OF LIFE, Paul Smith Gallery Space, London, UK
ITALICS, PANORAMA MONFERRATO (Piedmont), Camagna, IT
L'ALTRA SORGENTE, Galleria Enrico Astuni, Bologna, IT
CROSSINGS, Kasmin Gallery, New York, US
2023
FORROBODÓ, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, BR
ACTS OF GATHERING, EDEN PROJECTS, Cornwall, UK NARRATIVE THREADS: FIBER ART TODAY, Moody Center for the Arts, Houston, US
LUGAR COMUM / COMMON PLACE, Salvador, BR
MARIA NEPOMUCENO E VALENTINA LIERNUR, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, BR
MARIA NEPOMUCENO & VALENTINA LIERNUR | Projeto Condo, São Paulo, BR
NARRATIVE THREADS: FIBER ART TODAY, Moody Center for the Arts, Houston, US
2022
FIRE FIGURE FANTASY: SELECTIONS FROM THE ICA, ICA Miami, Miami, US
A TRAMA DA TERRA QUE TREME, A Gentil Carioca, São Paulo, BR
NOVOS HORIZONTES - INSIDE BRAZIL'S CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE VOL.1, Nichido Contemporary Art, Tokyo, JP
FOREST: WAKE THIS GROUND, Arnolfini Arts, Bristol, UK
SOUTH AMERICA, Galerie Karsten Greve, Paris, FR
THREADING THE NEEDLE, The Church Sag Harbor, New York, US
2021
ARTISTS’ BREATH LIVE | Setouchi Asia Forum 2021, Japan (OVR)
BUM-BUM PATICUMBUM PRUGURUNDUM, A Gentil Carioca, São Paulo, BR
ICHIHARA ART X MIX 2020+, Ichihara, JP
2020
MY BODY, MY RULES, Pérez Art Museum, Miami, US
JÁ ESTAVA ASSIM QUANDO EU CHEGUEI, Ron Mandos, Amsterdam, NL
COLLECTION OF CATHERINE PETITGAS, Museum of Contemporary Art MOCO, Montpellier, FR
2019
VAIVÉM, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, São Paulo, BR
AMAZONES, Art Paris, Paris, FR
MEMENTO MORI, Museum of Fine Arts of Mons, Mons, BE
UTOPIA, Fábrica de Arte Marcos Amaro, Itu, BR
2018
SUTURES, Marc Straus, New York, US
PULLING AT THREADS, Norval Foundation, Cape Town, ZA
OTHER PEOPLE THINK: AUCKLAND’S CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, NZ
FURNITURE BY ARTISTS: CHAIR, CHAIR, CHAIR, LAMP, TABLE, BED, SOFA, David Risley Gallery, Copenhagen, DK
DEATH IS IRRELEVANT, Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, Peekskill, US
2017
HELLO, CITY!, Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon, KR
MORE SIMPLY PUT, Sikkema Jenkins, New York, US
BETWEEN I & THOU, Hudson Valley Center of Contemporary Art, Peekskill, US
A GENTIL CARIOCA JAQUELINE MARTINS, Galeria Jaqueline Martins, São Paulo, BR
2016
SOFT POWER. ARTE BRASIL, Kunsthal KAdE, Amersfoort, NL
SPACE TO DREAM: RECENT ART FROM SOUTH AMERICA, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, NZ
BRÉSIL - CORPS ET CULTURE, The Olympic Museum, Lausanne, CH
2015
CRAFTED: OBJECTS IN FLUX, Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, US
NO MAN’S LAND, Rubell Family Collection, Miami, US
LIKE A PRAYER, Magasin III, Stockholm, SE
2014
PARADIGM STORE, Howick Place, London, UK
CRUZAMENTOS, Wexner Center, Ohio, US
BIENAL INTERNACIONAL DE CARTAGENA DE INDIAS, Cartagena, CO
SPIRIT DIOR, Shanghai Sculpture Art Space, Shanghai, CN
NOVAS CONEXÕES PLATÔNICAS, Museum of Contemporary Art, Niterói, BR
2013
HANGZHOU FIBER ARTS TRIENNIAL, Hangzhou, CN
BRASILIANAS, Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, DE
SPIRIT DIOR, Grand Palais, Paris, FR
PLAY, Bispo do Rosário Museum, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2012
ALONE TOGETHER, Rubell Family Foundation, Miami, US
UMA GENTIL INVENÇÃO, SESC – Mostra itinerante (Traveling Exhibition), BR
2011
A GENTIL CARIOCA, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York, US
ARTZUID, Amsterdam, NL
GIGANTE PELA PRÓPRIA NATUREZA, Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderna, Valencia, ES
NOVA ESCULTURA BRASILEIRA, Caixa Cultural, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2010
TOUCHED, Lehmann Maupin Gallery, New York, US
IFA INSTITUT, A Gentil Carioca, Berlin, DE
ARQUIVO GERAL, Centro Carioca de Design, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2008
CONNECTING THREAD, Galerie Karsten Greve, Paris, FR
EVOLUTION, Max Lang Gallery, New York, US
BLOOMING: FLORESCENDO BRASIL – JAPÃO, Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, Nagoya, JP
2007
STUDIO GUENZANI GALLERY, Milan, IT
GALERIA LUISA STRINA, São Paulo, BR
SALÃO DO PARANÁ, Museu de Arte Contemporânea do Paraná, Paraná, BR
A IMAGEM DO SOM, Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2006
ABRE-ALAS, A Gentil Carioca Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, BR
A GENTIL CARIOCA IN DANIEL REICH GALLERY, New York, US
3 ANOS DA GENTIL, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, BR
SALÃO DA BAHIA, Museum of Modern Art, Salvador, BR
2005
EDUCAÇÃO, A Gentil Carioca, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2004
POSIÇÃO 2004, School of Visual Arts of Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2003
CADA UM, DOIS, School of Visual Arts of Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2002
ARMAZÉM Nº 5, Lucky Strike Lab Event, Rio de Janeiro, BR
Screening of the video “COLAR” at the Festival of videos and short films ORGANIZAÇÃO, at Cine Odeon-RJ, Museum of Modern Art São Paulo and Centro Hélio Oiticica, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2001
RIO TRAJETÓRIAS, Castelinho do Flamengo and Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2000
ZONA FRANCA (Visual Arts Showcase), Fundição Progresso, Rio de Janeiro, BR
1999
CEP 20000 – 10 YEARS, Casa França-Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, BR
 EDUCATION
1990 – 1994
School of Visual Arts of Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro, BR
1994 – 1996
Faculdade da Cidade – Bachelor in Industrial Design, Rio de Janeiro, BR
1997 – 1999
UNIRIO University – Set Design, Rio de Janeiro, BR
2003 – 2004
School of Visual Arts of Parque Lage – Art and Philosophy, Rio de Janeiro, BR
AWARDS
2013
Acquisition prize Marcantonio Vilaça, MAM Rio, Rio de Janeiro, BR

2012
Rede Nacional Funarte, Proposições Poéticas: A rede, o cesto, o colar, a bola, Acre, BR

2006
Acquisition prize, Museum of Modern Art, El Salvador, BR
PUBLIC Collections  
Allen Memorial Art Museum, Ohio, US
Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, NZ
Catherine Petitgas Collection, London, UK
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, AE
Guggenheim Museum, New York, US
Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, US
Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, US
José Olympio Collection, São Paulo, BR
Magasin III, Stockholm, SE
Mara and Marcio Fainziliber Collection, Rio de Janeiro, BR
Marc and Livia Straus Family Collection, New York, US
Museum of Contemporary Art of Niterói, Niterói, BR
São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), São Paulo, BR
Museum of Art of Rio (MAR), Rio de Janeiro, BR
Museum of Modern Art of Bahia (MAM Bahia), Salvador, BR
Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro (MAM Rio), Rio de Janeiro, BR
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, US
Pérez Art Museum Miami, Miami, US
Rubell Family Collection Contemporary Arts Foundation, Miami, US