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MÁRCIA FALCÃO

Flesh Monuments

Night Gallery is pleased to announce Flesh Monuments, an exhibition of new paintings by Márcia Falcão. This is the artist’s debut solo presentation in the United States and follows her participation in the 2023 group exhibition The Big Picture.

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A nude woman depicted in motion with multiple legs, breasts, and arms against a dark abstract background.

Márcia Falcão, Ginga, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A headless nude figure in side profile in downward dog with one leg in the air, as the flesh drips down and pools at the bottom of the canvas.

Márcia Falcão, Coice de mula, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

Urgency defines Márcia Falcão’s life and work. Falcão brings to her studio an intense desire, an eagerness to witness the materialization of painting and explore this field of knowledge. Her urgency extends beyond artistic expression to the artist’s need to provide for her family and guarantee her autonomy: Living in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, Falcão is also the mother of two children.

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A nude figure lying on her back with her feet in the air as they meld into the archways of a cathedral.

Márcia Falcão, Catedral 2 – Posição 20, da série Ioga Psicológica, 2024

Biography permeated Falcão’s early works. Recurring motifs included the landscapes of Rio de Janeiro and everyday scenes of people living in the city's suburbs. The landscape was always the backdrop for the human figures, particularly women, whom Falcão represented in palettes of browns and reds. With vigorous gestures and generous, layered applications of paint, Falcão continues to establish an intricate relationship between the body and pictorial matter: She explores flesh in a penetrating way, at times re-enacting the systematic violence that threatens bodies—especially women’s bodies. Other works feature equally intense scenes of ecstasy, suggesting a dramatic duality between pleasure and pain.

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

Self-portrait of the artists with a pearl berimbau.

Márcia Falcão, Autorretrato com berimbau de pérola, 2024

Detail of Márcia Falcão’s “Autorretrato com berimbau de pérola”

Márcia Falcão, Autorretrato com berimbau de pérola, detail, 2024

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A nude figure kicking in the air against a purple and yellow background.

Márcia Falcão, Montinho, da série Amarelo Vingança, 2023

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão, Autorretrato catártico 2, 2024

In her most recent series, and the works on view in Flesh Monuments, the exterior landscape is inscribed or marked on the body. The body, at once violated and resilient, becomes the landscape as well as a metaphor for oil painting: There is a procedural nakedness in the very act of painting, which is revealed on the finished canvases. Falcão experiments with the pictorial field, variously erasing and highlighting. She lures the viewer into a visual game of interchange between veiled elements, gestural memories, and chromatic sensations. Her paintings challenge the linearity of time and the viewer's visual experience.

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A nude female figure bending backwards over a crack in a cliffside creating a bridge with her body.

Márcia Falcão, A Ponte, da série Paleta Utilitária, 2024

In her Yoga series, for example, Falcão explores the relationship between bodies and space, seeking a dialogue between the desire for freedom and the feeling of imprisonment. Each work portrays a palpable conflict: The bodies seem to struggle against the limitations of the painting or an interior frame, almost surpassing them. The color palette is subtle, marked by earthen tones that capture the nuances of skin and highlight the tension in each scene. The series is marked by introspection and a desire to balance interior and external representations.

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A nude female figure with one arm on the ground supporting her body, as many legs are in motion.

Márcia Falcão, Streetdance, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

In Capoeiras, Falcão introduces a more dynamic, perhaps playful, energy. Capoeira is an art form unto itself, and the artist’s research into its emblematic movements and blows inspire her representations of the body. Falcão paints with a palette of vibrant, acidic colors that suggest pulsating energy and movement. Here, bodies contort and intertwine in frenetic dance, evoking freedom and vitality.

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

Multiple nude figures intertwined with one another as they seemingly blend into the background, the flesh of a figure drips and pools onto the ground.

Márcia Falcão, Dengo, da série Monumentais, 2024

Detail of Márcia Falcão’s “Dengo, da série Monumentais”

Márcia Falcão, Dengo, da série Monumentais, detail, 2024

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

Multiple heads stacked on top of one another, with a yellow figure draped atop of the other figures reaching towards the ground.

Márcia Falcão, Montinho, da série Amarelo Vingança, 2023

Márcia Falcão, Croqui para Rabo de Arraia, 2024

Márcia Falcão, Croqui para Rabo de Arraia, 2024

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

The Monumentais series expands on the previous works, challenging traditional notions of space and form. Falcão aims for the sublime, making paintings that transcend mere visual representation. The figures, mostly larger-than-life, seem to unfold before our eyes as they gradually reveal their contours and shapes. The color palette becomes more complex, with carefully balanced saturations and shades of gray. Time and space appear to merge between various bodies. Once again, landscape engulfs the figure. But here, the landscape is interior.

A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão, Autorretrato catártico 1, 2022

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A nude figure doing a handstand with elongated drooping yellow forms, alongside a pearl berimbau.

Márcia Falcão, Bananeira, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão, Autorretrato catártico 3, 2024

A watercolor painting of a woman nude and tied with ropes.

Márcia Falcão, Croqui – Capa Disco 1, 2022

Installation view of Márcia Falcão’s “Flesh Monuments” at Night Gallery

Márcia Falcão, Flesh Monuments, installation view, 2024

Throughout Flesh Monuments, urgency is not simply about denouncing violence. The artist challenges the viewer’s expectations, at times exploring the grotesque or provoking a visceral reaction as she disrupts the constant seduction of images.

–Ana Roman

A nude female figure in a handstand pose with her legs in motion bending down, as her black hair dusts the floor against a green background.

Márcia Falcão, Canivete, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

Detail of Márcia Falcão’s “Canivete, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta”

Márcia Falcão, Canivete, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

Márcia Falcão (b. 1985, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) has had recent solo exhibitions at Instituto Incusartiz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, São Paulo, Brazil; Carpintaria, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Galeria Aymoré, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her work was included in the New York Latin American Art Triennial, New York, NY in 2022. She has been included in group exhibitions at Night Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; Pivô, São Paulo, Brazil; MAR – Museu de Arte do Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; SESC Pompéia, São Paulo, Brazil; and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York, NY. Falcão's work is included in the public collections of the Instituto Inhotim, Brumadinho, Brazil and the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She lives and works in Rio de Janeiro.

A nude woman depicted in motion with multiple legs, breasts, and arms against a dark abstract background.

Márcia Falcão

Ginga, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

charcoal, oil and oil stick on canvas

63 x 47 1/4 in (160 x 120 cm)

A headless nude figure in side profile in downward dog with one leg in the air, as the flesh drips down and pools at the bottom of the canvas.

Márcia Falcão

Coice de mula, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

charcoal, oil and oil stick on canvas

70 7/8 x 86 5/8 in (180 x 220 cm)

A nude figure lying on her back with her feet in the air as they meld into the archways of a cathedral.

Márcia Falcão

Catedral 2 – Posição 20, da série Ioga Psicológica, 2024

oil and oil pastel on canvas

63 x 47 1/4 in (160 x 120 cm)

Inquire
Self-portrait of the artists with a pearl berimbau.

Márcia Falcão

Autorretrato com berimbau de pérola, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

47 1/4 x 39 3/8 in (120 x 100 cm)

A nude figure kicking in the air against a purple and yellow background.

Márcia Falcão

Queixada, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

63 x 47 1/4 in (160 x 120 cm)

Inquire
A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão

Autorretrato catártico 2, 2024

oil on canvas

15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in (40 x 30 cm)

A nude female figure bending backwards over a crack in a cliffside creating a bridge with her body.

Márcia Falcão

A Ponte, da série Paleta Utilitária, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

70 7/8 x 86 5/8 in (180 x 220 cm)

Inquire
A nude female figure with one arm on the ground supporting her body, as many legs are in motion.

Márcia Falcão

Streetdance, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

charcoal, oil and oil stick on canvas

86 5/8 x 70 7/8 in (220 x 180 cm)

Multiple nude figures intertwined with one another as they seemingly blend into the background, the flesh of a figure drips and pools onto the ground.

Márcia Falcão

Dengo, da série Monumentais, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

98 3/8 x 118 1/8 in (250 x 300 cm)

Multiple heads stacked on top of one another, with a yellow figure draped atop of the other figures reaching towards the ground.

Márcia Falcão

Montinho, da série Amarelo Vingança, 2023

oil and oil stick on canvas

39 3/8 x 31 1/2 in (100 x 80 cm)

Inquire
Márcia Falcão

Croqui para Rabo de Arraia, 2024

china ink and watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 16 1/2 in (29.7 x 42 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui para Rabo de Arraia, 2024

china ink and watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 16 1/2 in (29.7 x 42 cm)

Inquire
A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão

Autorretrato catártico 1, 2022

oil on canvas

19 3/4 x 11 3/4 in (50 x 30 cm)

Inquire
Márcia Falcão

Croqui Autocuidado, 2024

watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.7 x 21 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui Autocuidado, 2024

watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.7 x 21 cm)

Inquire
A nude figure doing a handstand with elongated drooping yellow forms, alongside a pearl berimbau.

Márcia Falcão

Bananeira, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

47 1/4 x 39 3/8 in (120 x 100 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui Cabeça 3, 2024

watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 16 1/2 in (29.7 x 42 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui Cabeça 3, 2024

watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 16 1/2 in (29.7 x 42 cm)

Inquire
Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Capa Disco 4, 2022

charcoal and watercolor on paper

16 1/2 x 23 3/8 in (42 x 59.4 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Capa Disco 4, 2022

charcoal and watercolor on paper

16 1/2 x 23 3/8 in (42 x 59.4 cm)

Inquire
A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão

Autorretrato catártico 3, 2024

oil on canvas

23 5/8 x 15 3/4 in (60 x 40 cm)

A watercolor painting of a nude woman tied with ropes.

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Capa Disco 1, 2022

charcoal and watercolor on paper

23 3/8 x 16 1/2 in (59.4 x 42 cm)

A nude female figure in a handstand pose with her legs in motion bending down, as her black hair dusts the floor against a green background.

Márcia Falcão

Canivete, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

charcoal, oil and oil stick on canvas

63 x 47 1/4 in (160 x 120 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Para Machado de Assis, 2022

pencil and watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.7 x 21 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Para Machado de Assis, 2022

pencil and watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.7 x 21 cm)

Inquire
A nude woman depicted in motion with multiple legs, breasts, and arms against a dark abstract background.

Márcia Falcão

Ginga, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

charcoal, oil and oil stick on canvas

63 x 47 1/4 in (160 x 120 cm)

A headless nude figure in side profile in downward dog with one leg in the air, as the flesh drips down and pools at the bottom of the canvas.

Márcia Falcão

Coice de mula, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

charcoal, oil and oil stick on canvas

70 7/8 x 86 5/8 in (180 x 220 cm)

A nude figure lying on her back with her feet in the air as they meld into the archways of a cathedral.

Márcia Falcão

Catedral 2 – Posição 20, da série Ioga Psicológica, 2024

oil and oil pastel on canvas

63 x 47 1/4 in (160 x 120 cm)

Self-portrait of the artists with a pearl berimbau.

Márcia Falcão

Autorretrato com berimbau de pérola, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

47 1/4 x 39 3/8 in (120 x 100 cm)

A nude figure kicking in the air against a purple and yellow background.

Márcia Falcão

Queixada, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

63 x 47 1/4 in (160 x 120 cm)

A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão

Autorretrato catártico 2, 2024

oil on canvas

15 3/4 x 11 3/4 in (40 x 30 cm)

A nude female figure bending backwards over a crack in a cliffside creating a bridge with her body.

Márcia Falcão

A Ponte, da série Paleta Utilitária, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

70 7/8 x 86 5/8 in (180 x 220 cm)

A nude female figure with one arm on the ground supporting her body, as many legs are in motion.

Márcia Falcão

Streetdance, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

charcoal, oil and oil stick on canvas

86 5/8 x 70 7/8 in (220 x 180 cm)

Multiple nude figures intertwined with one another as they seemingly blend into the background, the flesh of a figure drips and pools onto the ground.

Márcia Falcão

Dengo, da série Monumentais, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

98 3/8 x 118 1/8 in (250 x 300 cm)

Multiple heads stacked on top of one another, with a yellow figure draped atop of the other figures reaching towards the ground.

Márcia Falcão

Montinho, da série Amarelo Vingança, 2023

oil and oil stick on canvas

39 3/8 x 31 1/2 in (100 x 80 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui para Rabo de Arraia, 2024

china ink and watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 16 1/2 in (29.7 x 42 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui para Rabo de Arraia, 2024

china ink and watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 16 1/2 in (29.7 x 42 cm)

A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão

Autorretrato catártico 1, 2022

oil on canvas

19 3/4 x 11 3/4 in (50 x 30 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui Autocuidado, 2024

watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.7 x 21 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui Autocuidado, 2024

watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.7 x 21 cm)

A nude figure doing a handstand with elongated drooping yellow forms, alongside a pearl berimbau.

Márcia Falcão

Bananeira, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

oil and oil stick on canvas

47 1/4 x 39 3/8 in (120 x 100 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui Cabeça 3, 2024

watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 16 1/2 in (29.7 x 42 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui Cabeça 3, 2024

watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 16 1/2 in (29.7 x 42 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Capa Disco 4, 2022

charcoal and watercolor on paper

16 1/2 x 23 3/8 in (42 x 59.4 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Capa Disco 4, 2022

charcoal and watercolor on paper

16 1/2 x 23 3/8 in (42 x 59.4 cm)

A cropped self-portrait of the artist.

Márcia Falcão

Autorretrato catártico 3, 2024

oil on canvas

23 5/8 x 15 3/4 in (60 x 40 cm)

A watercolor painting of a nude woman tied with ropes.

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Capa Disco 1, 2022

charcoal and watercolor on paper

23 3/8 x 16 1/2 in (59.4 x 42 cm)

A nude female figure in a handstand pose with her legs in motion bending down, as her black hair dusts the floor against a green background.

Márcia Falcão

Canivete, da série Capoeira em Paleta Alta, 2024

charcoal, oil and oil stick on canvas

63 x 47 1/4 in (160 x 120 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Para Machado de Assis, 2022

pencil and watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.7 x 21 cm)

Márcia Falcão

Croqui – Para Machado de Assis, 2022

pencil and watercolor on paper

11 3/4 x 8 1/4 in (29.7 x 21 cm)