Jac Leirner (São Paulo, 1961) lives and works in São Paulo, Brazil.

Jac Leirner’s work is often expressed through processes of collection and order: accumulating objects and an acute, in-depth observation of their characteristics, breaking into their normal cycle of consumption, followed by a reformulation and conversion into visual qualities that, with as little mediation as possible, express colour, materiality, and a presence in space. These often mimic the salient characteristics of the objects themselves, using them as proportional paragons of size. She organizes and presents her material in unusually complex ways, highlighting the banality of each object, enabling a refocus of its form and beauty. Through their seriality and bold accents of colour, her work references both the history of Brazilian Constructivisim as well as the legacy of Arte Povera and Minimalism.

Her work has been shown in solo exhibition in international public and private Institutions, including: Swiss Institute Contemporary Art New York, New York, USA (2023); Ludwig Museum, Cologne, Germany (2020); IMMA, Dublin, Ireland (2017); The Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland (2017), MoCA - Museum of Contemporary Art Shanghai, Shanghai, China (2016); Museo Tamayo, Mexico City, Mexico (2014); CAAM: Centro Atlántico de Arte Moderno, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain (2014), Yale School of Art, New Haven, USA (2012), Estação Pinacoteca, São Paulo, Brazil (2011); Centro Universitário da USP - Maria Antonia, São Paulo, Brazil (2008; 2001); Museu de Arte da Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2006); Miami Art Museum, Miami, USA (2004); MASP - Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo, Brazil (2001; 1999); The Bohen Foundation, New York, USA (1998); ICA - The Institute of Contemporary Art Boston, Boston, USA (1991); Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, USA (1991).

Her work has been shown in biennials and international group exhibitions such as: 12th Sharjah Biennial, Sharjah, UAE (2015); Bienal do Mercosul, Porto Alegre, Brazil (2015; 2005); Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul, Turkey (2011); 7th Bienal de la Habana, Havana, Cuba (2000); Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Art, Liverpool, UK (1999); Biennale di Venezia, Venice, Italy (1997; 1990); Documenta IX, Kassel, Germany (1992); Bienal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (1989; 1983).

In 2019 she was awarded the Wolfgang Hahn Prize.

Artist's CV
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