Foto de alfredo volpi fachada

Why the Brazilian modernist behind the Bandeirinhas (‘Flags’) and Fachadas (‘Façades’) series is now attracting the attention of collectors worldwide

Alfredo Volpi.

Photo: Instituto Volpi

Who was Alfredo Volpi?

‘Alfredo Volpi () was one of the most important Brazilian painters of the 20th century,’ states Leonie Mir, Director of Post-War and Contemporary Art at Christie’s London.

He achieved a splendid synthesis between fine art and popular art; between figuration and abstraction; and between European tradition and Brazilian modernism.

Volpi won many awards, including the Best National Painter prize at ’s São Paulo Biennial, but during his lifetime was feted predominantly in Brazil.

‘Only in the past few years has his name and fame really spread internationally,’ says Mir.

In , the artist was the subject of a major retrospective at the New National Museum of Mon