Manoel dos Santos
a riverside shanty in Manaus, Brazil
Manoel dos Santos has spent over three decades painting taxis and delivery vans amidst the humid climate of Manaus. Each day, he dances around the obstacles of rust and relentless weather, crafting colors that match the sun-faded urban landscape. At home, his world is surrounded by the low hum of survival — a refrigerator's buzz ensuring the food and medicines are safe even as he writes his name under every plate, a legacy of his careful nature.
About
Obsession
The hum of a refrigerator in silence
Voice
The weight of humid anticipation
Artistic Medium
Painted discarded metal panels
Technique
Layering and etching with paint
Influences
The Rio Negro and its floods, early morning fog, distant engine roars
Materials
Recycled metal from old cars, industrial solvents, sandpaper
Scale
As large as van hoods
Selected 1 time · Last: April 27, 2026
