The renowned artist will showcase monumental and immersive artworks.
For its 70th edition, taking place from January 26th to February 2nd 2025, BRAFA Art Fair is delighted to announce the internationally acclaimed Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos as Guest of Honour. Known for her monumental sculptures and immersive installations, Vasconcelos explores themes related to the status of women, consumer society, and collective identity. Her vibrant artworks will promise to add a festive and colorful touch to this milestone edition of BRAFA. Excellence Magazine is proud to be media partner of this prestigious event.
Joana Vasconcelos is a Portuguese visual artist, born in 1971. Over the course of her 30-year career, she has made use of a wide variety of media. Although she has a preference for textiles, Joana Vasconcelos also works with cement, metal, ceramics, glass, and found objects. Her ambition is to decontextualize everyday objects and revisit the concept of craft in the twenty-first century.
Her international reputation was consolidated in 2005, at the first Venice Biennale curated by women, where she presented her artwork The Bride, a classically shaped chandelier whose crystal pendants had been replaced by approximately 14,000 tampons. Joana Vasconcelos was the youngest artist and the first woman to exhibit at the Château de Versailles in 2012. In 2018, she became the first Portuguese artist to have a solo show at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. In 2023, she had the honour of exhibiting at the Uffizi Galleries and the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, alongside great masters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Caravaggio.
Joana Vasconcelos at BRAFA 2025
Joana Vasconcelos will be exhibiting Valkyries, sculptures inspired by the female figures from Norse mythology who flew over the battlefields, bringing the bravest warriors back to life to join the deities in Valhalla. Made from textiles, they give full expression to the artist’s creativity, involving a variety of fabrics, crochet elements, embroidery and a feast of ornaments such as sequins, braids, tassels and hundreds of LED lights, which simulate an effect of vibration and combine traditional craftsmanship with technological methods.
Collectors Gallery (Brussels) specializing in unique, artist-driven designs, celebrates the intersection of fine art and high craftsmanship. Offering pieces that challenge traditional notions of jewelry, the gallery pays tribute to Joana Vasconcelos by presenting her creation The Extravaganza (Black) necklace.
Galerie La Patinoire Royale Bach (Brussels) specializes in modern and contemporary art. Representing Joana Vasconcelos, the gallery will exhibit several of her works, including Blue Moon (2019), Blue Rose (2016) and Salada de Fruta (2019). A new exhibition titled The Enchanted Forest by Joana Vasconcelos will be on view at the gallery from February 1st to April 12th, 2025.
Galerie Nathalie Obadia (Paris, Bruxelles), representing both emerging and renowned international artists, will showcase the following works of Joana Vasconcelos at BRAFA: Retro (2013) , Oasis (2014) and Arabesques (2015).
Three questions to Joana Vasconcelos
Why did you accept the invitation to be guest of honour at BRAFA 2025?
I am very honoured to be the guest of honour at the next BRAFA, particularly in recognition of the fair’s 70th anniversary, a remarkable milestone that underscores both its historical significance and its enduring impact on the global art world. The longevity of BRAFA is a testament to its role as a beacon for art connoisseurs and collectors, fostering an environment where the past, present, and future of art intersect. To be part of this momentous celebration is not only a privilege but also an opportunity to engage with an institution that has become synonymous with cultural preservation and artistic innovation.
What do you like about the Fair?
The fair has consistently distinguished itself through its rigorous selection of exhibitors and artworks, curated with a level of thoughtfulness and precision that places it among the most respected art fairs globally. The dedication and expertise of the BRAFA team are clearly reflected in the calibre of both the galleries and the participating artists, and I am both honoured and inspired to contribute to such a such a long-standing and esteemed institution.
BRAFA will be celebrating its 70th anniversary. What do you have in mind for this special edition?
For this historic edition, I am proposing the installation of a body of work that I have been developing since last year in collaboration with Dior. This series will feature two monumental sculptures, the placement of which I believe will serve as an aesthetic and conceptual focal point at the fair. These works are intended to not only celebrate the fair’s rich heritage but also to engage in a dialogue with the contemporary moment, creating an atmosphere that resonates with the depth and vision that BRAFA embodies. Through this installation, my hope is to contribute to the creation of a distinctive and memorable experience, befitting the significance of BRAFA’s 70th anniversary.
