Correnteza: Carolina Pereira de Almeida

Povos is proud to present Correnteza, the latest solo exhibition of textile, glass, and neon works from Brazilian sculptor Carolina Pereira de Almeida. Diaristic, contemporary self-portraits are wrought in contrasting mediums that illustrate life’s intrinsic dualities. Correnteza, opening Friday November 15th, will be the artist’s second solo presentation with the Gallery.

Pereira de Almeida’s first solo exhibition with Povos in Summer 2023, Fuzzy Memories, explored themes of memory, dreams, and the subconscious. Her signature integration of glass and textile persists in Correnteza, wherein Pereira de Almeida embraces the comfort of contrast—fiber versus glass; figurative versus abstract; emotional versus rational thought; static versus dynamic. This pointy duality reflects a universal truth that has preoccupied the artist as of late: life is hard, but humans are soft. Correnteza, the Portuguese word for “Current”, or “Flow”, indicates a present rootedness, but also a submission to–and acceptance of–change. 

Pereira de Almeida draws deeply from her childhood in Araraquara—a small town nestled in the São Paulo countryside—her teenage years navigating the hectic energy of São Paulo, and nearly a decade of life in the United States. First arriving in Santa Barbara, a small coastal town in Southern California, Carolina weaves a blend of Brazil, California, and Chicago into her work. Together, these places form her sense of home, an ever-present part of her identity.

Correnteza serves as a continuation of the artist's persistent exploration of anxiety, belonging, duality, and the fluid nature of the creative process. This time looking forward instead of backwards, Pereira embraces the idea that If you surrender to the current, you can ride it.

BIO

Carolina Pereira de Almeida is a Brazilian multidisciplinary artist and graphic designer whose work explores the intricate relationship between memories, encounters, and the unconscious mind. Her artistic practice centers around abstract compositions, using textures, colors, and light to capture the fragmented and elusive nature of these internal landscapes.

Her work spans contrasting mediums, such as rug tufting, neon bending, and glass block sculptures, each offering distinct qualities. The softness and warmth of the tufted fibers contrast with the cold rigidity of bent glass, while the glass blocks add an element of distortion and scattered light—a reminder of how memories blur and change over time, leaving only our perception of the experience as proof. As Pereira de Almeida continued working with glass blocks, she noticed their presence throughout Chicago’s architecture, which is used for security, privacy, and light. These are metaphors that permeate throughout her current bodies of work. Through this blend of tactility and vibrance, she evokes deep feelings of nostalgia; bridging past and present in a way that feels both familiar and dreamlike.

She has exhibited at EXPO Chicago, Ken Saunders Gallery, and Povos Gallery in Chicago.