Projeto Afro

Created amidst the pandemic in 2020 by Deri Andrade, Projeto Afro is an Afro-Brazilian online arts platform dedicated to mapping, disseminating, and amplifying the presence of Black artists in Brazil. Rooted in a commitment to historical recovery and the defense of racial equality, the platform works to challenge the dominant, often whitewashed narratives of Brazilian art by centering the voices, practices, and contributions of Afro-Brazilian creatives— both contemporary and historical. Through research, documentation, and public engagement, the collective aims to build a comprehensive and accessible archive that reflects the richness, plurality, and complexity of Black artistic expression throughout Brazil’s history.

In accordance with Projeto Afro’s mission, the platform seeks to disrupt exclusionary systems and offer new frameworks for understanding art, identity, and belonging. Projeto Afro emphasizes the political and aesthetic significance of Black artistry, not as a niche or marginal category, but as foundational to the country’s cultural landscape and the greater fine arts world. By fostering dialogue, visibility, and critical reflection, the collective serves as both a space of recognition and a catalyst for reimagining the future of Brazilian art through an Afro-centered lens.

City

BeloHorizonte

Country

Brazil

Region

S. America

Year of Creation

2020

Featured Project

Crossroads of Afro-Brazilian Art

Encruzilhadas da Arte Afro-Brasileira (“Crossroads of Afro-Brazilian Art”), curated by Deri Andrade and supported by Projeto Afro, was an exhibition in spring and summer of 2025 that showcased around 150 works by Black Brazilian artists. The exhibition highlighted these artists’ historical and cultural contributions to Brazilian art. Centered on themes like ancestry, spiritual heritage, political engagement, and representation, the exhibition aimed to decolonize dominant art narratives and affirm Afro-Brazilian identity and creativity across time and regions.

Encruzilhadas da Arte Afro-Brasileira

Resources

Bispo, Alexandre Araujo. “Conversa com Deri Andrade – ‘O Projeto Afro emerge em um cenário de violência histórica’.” C& América Latina, 12 Oct. 2020, https://amlatina.contemporaryand.com/pt/editorial/the-afro-project-emerges-in-a-context-of-historical-violence/.

“Deri Andrade – Projeto Afro | Presença Negra no MARGS.” Uploaded by MARGS – Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul to YouTube, 1 Jul. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3aStiAeXEs.

“Encruzilhadas da Arte Afro-brasileira.” Galatea, https://galatea.art/en/exhibitions/97-encruzilhadas-da-arte-afro-brasileira-curadoria-deri-andrade-muncab-salvador/.

“Entrevista com Deri Andrade.” Uploaded by Pinacoteca do Ceará to YouTube, 1 Feb. 2025, https://youtu.be/J53undkZKEk?si=HLMCt27jV0szJMhs.

Guimarães, João Victor. “CROSSROADS OF AFRO-BRAZILIAN ART IN SALVADOR.” SeLecT, 11 Apr. 2025, https://select.art.br/encruzilhadas-da-arte-afro-brasileira-em-salvador/.

Oliveira, Alecsandra Matias de. “Afro Project and the research on black authors.” USP Newspaper, 28 Jul. 2025, https://jornal.usp.br/articulistas/alecsandra-matias-de-oliveira/projeto-afro-e-a-pesquisa-sobre-autorias-negras/.

Serpa, Verônica. “Projeto Afro mapeia mais de 300 artistas negros em plataforma online.” Alma Preta, 24 Jan. 2024, https://almapreta.com.br/sessao/cultura/projeto-afro-mapeia-mais-de-300-artistas-negros-em-plataforma-online/.

More Information

projetoafro.com

IMPORTANT: Profile pages for all collectives are in permanent development and have been built using information in the public domain. They will be updated progressively and in dialogue with the organizations by the end of 2024. New features and sections will be included in 2025, like featured videos, and additional featured projects. Please contact us if you discover errors. For more information on mapping criteria and to submit your organization’s information to be potentially included in the database, visit this page