Heitor dos Prazeres began painting in the mid-1930s and his favorite subjects were mulattos, malandros, samba and the world of the favela. He took part in the São Paulo Biennial from its first edition in 1951. An excellent cavaquinho player, he even created a revolutionary method for teaching this instrument. He founded samba schools, including Mangueira, and gained fame as a composer of popular music. His CV includes several solo exhibitions in Brazil and participation in national and international exhibitions. In London, one of his paintings was acquired by the Queen, as Walmir Ayala tells us in his Dicionário de pintores brasileiros (2. ed. revised and expanded Editora UFPR, 1997). Between 1994 and 1995, he took part in the Unibanco Collection exhibitions at the Casa da Cultura in Poços de Caldas (MG) and at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro. In 1999, the BNDES gallery and the National Museum of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro opened exhibitions on his life and work. Heitor dos Prazeres’ life story embodies the power of artistic expression to capture the essence of a culture, celebrate tradition and promote a sense of community identity. His work serves as a reminder of the importance of cultural heritage in shaping the creative landscape of Brazil and other countries.