MASP’s groundbreaking expansion opens the floor to curatorial experimentation, embracing plural narratives and alternative art histories.
MASP’s Expansion Opens the Floor to Curatorial Experimentation
The Museu de Arte de São Paulo‘s recently unveiled expansion doubles the museum’s exhibition space, making room for plural narratives and alternative art histories.
A New Era of Curatorial Freedom
The Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) has long been a hub for innovative and avant-garde art exhibitions. The recent unveiling of its expanded building marks a significant milestone in the institution’s history, doubling the exhibition space to 21,863 square meters. This expansion not only provides more room for showcasing the museum’s vast collection but also opens up new possibilities for curatorial experimentation.
Lina Bo Bardi: A Revolutionary Museologist
The original brutalist structure designed by Lina Bo Bardi is now complemented by a tower designed by architects Martin Corullon and Gustavo Cedroni of Metro Arquitetos Associados. The museum’s first director, Bo Bardi, co-founded MASP in 1947 with philanthropist and media mogul Assis Chateaubriand and ran it for 15 years. Her radical museography rejected the Eurocentric perspective to embrace a more plural, multilayered, and fluid way of looking at art that could respond to shifting political, social, and cultural realities.
Lina Bo Bardi was a renowned Brazilian architect, designer, and art curator.
Born in 1914, she studied architecture in Rome before returning to Brazil in the 1940s.
Her work blends modernism with indigenous influences, creating unique and innovative designs.
Notable projects include the SESC Pompéia cultural center and the Museu de Arte de São Paulo.
Bardi's legacy extends beyond her buildings, as she also championed social justice and women's rights.
A Celebration of Lina Bo Bardi’s Legacy
Isaac Julien is presenting in MASP’s new building his immersive multimedia piece “Lina Bo Bardi – A Marvellous Entanglement” (2019). Throughout his career, Julien has explored video as a medium and tool to deconstruct narratives and show the complex and inherently plural interweaving of memories and histories that shape our idea of the past. The installation follows her philosophical and existential ruminations on a journey through some of her most iconic buildings in Brazil.
A Collection Redefined
The museum’s collection comprises over 10,000 works, extending encyclopedically well beyond its original nucleus of Western-centered art. It began with 1960s Brazilian modernism and geometric abstraction and now embraces modern and contemporary names from around the world. The long-term rotating exhibition of the collection, “Picture Gallery in Transformation,” is continually shaped by new acquisitions, most often from recent exhibitions, focused on overlooked or removed narratives.
Breaking Down Barriers
Rejecting a singular, linear history in favor of plural, layered narratives, this multi-year curatorial framework has allowed the museum to explore historically marginalized voices. These have ranged from “Histórias da Infância” (Histories of Childhood) in 2016 to “Histórias da Sexualidade” (Histories of Sexuality) in 2018, followed by the groundbreaking exhibition “Histórias Afro-Atlânticas” (Afro-Atlantic Histories).
Curatorial experimentation involves pushing the boundaries of traditional curation methods.
It requires a deep understanding of the artwork, its context, and the audience.
This approach encourages curators to take risks and explore new ways of presenting art.
By doing so, they can create immersive experiences that engage viewers on multiple levels.
According to a study, 75% of museums have incorporated experimental curation techniques into their programming.
This shift towards experimentation has led to increased visitor participation and a more dynamic art scene.
New Directions
In 2024, MASP focused on “Queer Histories,” presenting both new additions to the collection and a major exhibition—featuring an intergenerational group of LGBTQ+ artists, activists, and researchers. Next up in 2025, MASP turns its lens to “Histories of Ecology”—a wide-reaching exhibition and programming initiative designed to spark dialogue around ecological issues as they intersect with visual culture.
Queer histories refer to the stories and experiences of individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.
These histories are often marginalized or erased from mainstream narratives, but they have played a significant role in shaping cultural and social norms.
Archaeological findings suggest that same-sex relationships existed in ancient civilizations such as Greece and Rome.
Similarly, historical figures like Oscar Wilde and Radclyffe Hall have been celebrated for their contributions to the LGBTQ+ community.
Understanding queer histories is essential for promoting inclusivity and challenging societal norms.
A New Era for African Art
The third floor is showing works from the African and Afro-Brazilian collection. A diverse group of statuettes, everyday objects, dolls, drums, furniture, and masks—is now presented in a scenic arrangement that isolates each artifact to revive and enhance its spiritual and ritualistic presence.
The Power of Geometric Abstraction
The fifth floor hosts a focused presentation of masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir from MASP’s collection. The exhibition design, conceived by architect Juliana Godoy in dialogue with Bo Bardi’s crystal easels, guides visitors through twelve paintings and a sculpture displayed on individual supports made of reflective metal sheets.
A New Era for Curatorial Experimentation
With the opening of the new building, there is some breathing room in the calendar and more flexibility in the curatorial structure. MASP’s plan is to dedicate the second floor and second basement of the Lina building to long-term displays drawn from the museum’s holdings.
