Barrão makes sculptures through ingenious and good-natured bricolage. They are composed of glazed ceramic and porcelain pieces. Collected by the artist for at least two decades, the objects are intentionally broken in his studio. Parts of teacups, plates, vases, souvenirs and the like are reconfigured, fused into each other in compositions resulting in hybrid, expansive beings, stripped of their previous uses. Once regrouped, these pieces lose the qualities that made them useful or identifiable, making them works that defy decorative logic, evoking kitsch’s typical look, exaggeration and humor.
Among his individual shows are Stuck Rhyme, Night Gallery, Los Angeles, USA(2023); FALA COISA, Carpintaria, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2022); Mufa Caos, Jacarandá, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2018); Fora Daqui, Casa França-Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2015); Mashups, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, USA (2012); and Natureza Morta, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal (2010). The artist has also participated in group shows such as Brasilidade pós Modernismo, CCBB – Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro; São Paulo ; Brasília; Belo Horizonte (2021); Troposphere: Chinese and Brazilian Contemporary Art, Beijing Minsheng Art Museum, Beijing (2017); A Casa, MAC USP – Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (2015).
Barrão has works in important public collections such as Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil and MAM – Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
