Serpa

Ivan Serpa studied under Axel Leskoschek and participated in the São Paulo Biennial, winning prizes in 1951 and 1961. Serpa was instrumental in forming the Frente Group and exhibited internationally. He taught art at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, focusing on creativity and modernity, in contrast to traditional European art schools. His series of paintings, like “Amazônica” and “Mangueira,” showcased Brazilian sensibilities. Serpa’s geometric abstraction began in 1947 during art therapy sessions. He influenced artists like Hélio Oiticica and contributed to the Neoconcrete movement. Throughout the ’50s, Serpa explored rhythmic geometric compositions, and after traveling in the late ’50s, he embraced a softer, figurative style in the ’60s. His influence on Brazilian art and education was profound, evident in the works of his peers and students. Despite his early death, Serpa’s impact on Brazilian art remains significant.