Lita Cerqueira

Brazilian photographer Lita Cerqueira created a complete and historical collection of images that are a portrait of black Brazilians during the Dictatorship period in Brazil until today, the only complete collection of the genre.

Lita Cerqueira, a black woman herself, created this complete register of Black Brazilians in a time when photography was dominated by white men, descendents of European countries. At that time there were not many opportunities for women in photography, neither were there for a black woman. Therefore, it is our big honor to represent her and showcase her photographs at the gallery attesting the strong emotional power her Art brings to us. 

The Brazilian Quilombo movement struggle came to an end, but it was replaced by that of the intellectual struggle, which Lita Cerqueira participated and still participates actively.

Brazilian Quilombo also gave birth to cinema, samba, dance and the creation of the Brazilian culture. Lita Cerqueira’s gaze sweeps the land, demystifies life, beautifies all that is beyond what we perceive at first glance.

Ricardo Fernandes

Lita Cerqueira’s photographs are a result of sensitivity of a gaze. Wrought in the anguish and acuteness of repressed people, but proud and patient ones, with the magical dimensions of this civilization that is in progress, a fourth dimension in the life of inspired nations such as Brazil.

I am well acquainted with this confluence between desire of a tropical artist and the unpredictability of our willful gods. I am an artist, just as Lita is, also black and also from Bahia, and I know that her photographs are a miracle of a gaunt attentive eye tended by the inattentive eye of gods in a trance.

Gilberto Gil

Main Exhibitions

2017

Bahia´s Carnival official Photographer, Trio Eletrico 2222, Flora Gil, Salvador, Brazil

2016

“A Arte da Lembrança”, The Art of Memory, Gregório de Matos Foundation, Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

Orixas – Maison France Brésil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Bahia´s Carnival official Photographer, Trio Eletrico 2222, Flora Gil, Salvador, Brazil

2015

Candiani Cultural Center, Venice, Italy

Lita´s sensitive and documentary Glance, Ateliê da Imagem, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Collective Exhibition A Arte da Lembrança ” A Saudade na Fotografia Brasileira”, The Art of Memory, Nostalgia in Brazilian Photograph, Itau Cultural, São Paulo, Brazil

Bahia´s Carnival official Photographer, Trio Eletrico 2222, Flora Gil, Salvador, Brazil

2014

Les couleurs du Brésil, Johnson & Johnson Paris, France

Le Brési en Noir et Blanc, Cloître des Billettes, Cultural Center, Paris, France

2013

Vinícius de Moraes, 100 years, FNAC, São Paulo, Brazil

A Fotografia Como eu Sou, FNAC, Curitiba, Brazil

Lita Cerqueira at Ricardo Fernandes Gallery, Paris, France

2012

La photographie telle que je suis, Ricardo Fernandes Gallery, Paris, France

Femmes du Brésil, Centre Diocésain de Besançon, France

Photographe Bahianaise, Lita Cerqueira, Centre Diocésain de Bensançon, France

2011

Collective-Collectible, Ricardo Fernandes Gallery, Paris, France

De A a Z, Ricardo Fernandes Gallery, Paris, France

2010

A Fotografia Como Eu Sou, Oi Futuro Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2009

A fotografia como Eu Sou, Pinacoteca de São Paulo, Brazil

Madaleine Cerimony, Bom Fim Church, Paris, France

2008

Cosmopolita – Lita Cerqueira Retrospective, Correios Cultural Center, Salvador, Brazil

2004

Acquisition Ceremony, 10 photos of Lita Cerqueira at the Afro-Brazilian Museum of Ibirapuera Park, São Paulo, Brazil

2003

Madaleine Cerimony, Bom Fim Church, Paris, France

2001

Official Photographer of Bahia Carnival, Trio Eletrico 2222, Flora Gil, Salvador, Brazil

2000

The Rediscovery of Brazil 500, Black Body and Soul Festival, Parque do Ibirapuera, São Paulo, Brazil

1997

Representative of the State of Bahia at VIVA BAHIA!, African American Heritage Society, Pensacola Cultural Center of Florida, Miami, USA

1976

Official Photographer of Salvador Cultural Center, Salvador, Brazil

Among others…

Main Songbooks Photography

2002

60 years of Gilberto Gil: All tales, Bene Tonteles, GG Edições, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1998

Anthology of Photography in Africa and the Indian Ocean, Emanuel Araújo and André Joly, Revue Noire, Paris, France

 1990

Cazuza, Compact book

1989

Gilberto Gil, Bossa Nova

1987

Almir Chediak, Lumiar Edition House

Caetano Veloso, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Kassav, Philippe Conrath, Editions Seghers, Paris, France

Cazuza, Only Mothers are Happy, São Paulo, Brazil

Gilberto Gil – All the words of Gilberto Gil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Burning Sands, Scarlet Moon Knight, Editora Globo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Among others…

Main Documentary Film

Gilberto Gil, The Power of Music. Dominique Dreyfus film produced by Yves Billon; Distribution Zaradoc – Paris, France

Among others…

Main Celebrities immortalized by Lita Cerqueira

Alceu Valença

Arrigo Barnabé

Bob Marley

Caetano Veloso

Cazuza

Chico Buarque

Dorival Caymmi

Gilberto Gil

Gal Costa

Hermeto Pascoal

João Gilberto

Jorge Benjor

Luiz Melodia

Maria Bethânia

Milton Nacimento

Ney Matogrosso

Peter Tosh

Among others…

Main Private Collections

Adriana Calcanhotto, Singer/Composer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Caetano Velozo – Singer/Composer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  

Cissa Guimarães, Actress &  Presenter, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dede Veloso, Caetano´s ex-wife, Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

Elizabeth Monteiro de Carvalho, Manager, Brazil

Gilberto Gil, Singer/Composer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Hamilton Moreira, Director of the Curitiba Ophthalmological Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil

Julio Bressan, Movie Director, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Luiz Melodia (in memorium), Singer/Composer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  

Mariana de Morães, (Vinicus de Moraes Granddaughter) Actress & singer, São Paulo, Brazil

Marília Gil, Gilberto Gil Daughter and Producer, Salvador da Bahia, Brazil

Moreno Veloso, Caetano Veloso son, Singer/Composer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Neville d´Almeida – Movie Director/ Writer/ Artist Multimedia :  creator with Helio Oticica of the first Audiovisual, Interactive and Sensorial Installation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ney Matogrosso, Singer/Composer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  

Regina Case, Actress & Presenter, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Ricardo Fernandes, Art Collector – Art Dealer, Paris, France

Viviane Suarez de Sampaio, Art Collector, Curitiba, Brazil