Lucia Laguna: Celebrated Brazilian Painter of Landscape and Memory Passes Away at 85

Lucia Laguna, an influential figure in Brazilian contemporary art, passed away at her home in Rio de Janeiro on September 21 at the age of 85. Born in 1941, her artistic journey began quite late, as she only took up painting after retiring from a long career in literature education in 1994. Despite this delayed start, Laguna left an indelible mark on the art world, distinguishing herself with her unique visual language.

Her artistic career gained traction with her first solo exhibition at Centro Cultural Cândido Mendes in 1998, followed by her inaugural gallery show eight years later. As Márcia Fortes of Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, the gallery that began representing her in 2012, notes, "You look and you say, ‘This is a Lucia Laguna.’ It’s very recognizable.” Her work reflects a deeply personal connection to Rio, particularly the city's North Zone, where the complexities of urban life inspired her canvases.

In a 2024 interview, Laguna expressed her affinity for painting, stating, “I chose painting as my medium because it made sense to me.” Previously involved in literature and crafts, she viewed her transition to painting as a natural evolution rooted in her experiences with textures and forms from her earlier ventures, which included running a children’s toy factory. It’s clear she saw a thread connecting her diverse experiences, as she often said, “Once you’ve been in that environment and move into art, you realize that what you were doing there was essentially sculpture.”

Laguna's art is characterized by its vibrant portrayal of urban landscapes, particularly the lively chaos of rooftops and the intricate web of electrical cables in her surroundings. She often described her work not in terms of style, but as a process of "eliminating certain areas and introducing others," layering paint to convey the depth of her observations and interactions with the environment. “I don’t think I have a style at all… my intention from the start was to reproduce what I saw through the window,” she remarked, emphasizing her unique perspective on reality.

The complexity of her technique involved layering and reworking her canvases. Fortes highlights Laguna’s process, mentioning that she often used masking tape to create nuanced, multi-layered compositions, resulting in paintings with up to 16 layers. This method contributed to a signature aesthetic that resonated with viewers and collectors alike. The artist’s strategy of rotating her canvases as she worked allowed her to shift perspectives dramatically, adding to the intrigue of her pieces.

Laguna’s name gained prominence mainly in Brazil until a pivotal moment at Art Basel in 2021. Fortes recounted how her gallery occupied a stand once used by 303 Gallery, showcasing a particularly striking diptych by Laguna that caught the eye of Sadie Coles, a prominent international dealer. Following that encounter, Laguna secured a solo exhibition in London, which was a significant milestone in her artistic journey.

During her career, Laguna’s work evolved, embodying her engagement with the themes of memory, landscape, and daily life in urban settings. As stated by a spokesperson for Sadie Coles HQ, her paintings transformed everyday scenes—like the houses, streets, and gardens of Rio—into intricate canvases that reflected both intimacy and openness to the world around her.

This intimate connection to her environment fueled Laguna's artistic exploration as she aimed to capture the essence of life in Rio. “All that vast expanse of buildings, the urban sprawl and the city’s suffocating density—it was all right there,” she noted, encapsulating her perspective as she painted her surroundings.

Ultimately, Lucia Laguna’s contribution to the art world, characterized by depth and richness, places her firmly within the canon of contemporary Brazilian art. As her canvases flood with color and life, the legacy she leaves behind will continue to inspire future generations of artists and art lovers, ensuring that her distinctive voice remains a vital part of the ongoing conversation in art.