Zanele Muholi's landmark survey 'Beleza Valente' has opened at the Rio Art Museum (MAR) in Rio de Janeiro on 12 June 2026, following a critically acclaimed presentation at IMS Paulista. Curated by Daniele Queiroz, Thyago Nogueira, and Ana Paula Vitorio, the exhibition brings together more than 100 works spanning Muholi's career, focusing on documenting and celebrating Black LGBTQIAPN+ communities through portraiture and visual activism. The opening includes a seminar on LGBTQI+ culture in the visual arts and a performance by singer Azula.
The exhibition matters because it brings the work of one of the most influential visual activists of our time to Brazilian audiences, reinforcing the global dialogue on visibility, resistance, and representation. By centering Black LGBTQIAPN+ identities and challenging historical erasure, 'Beleza Valente' underscores the transformative power of image-making and the role of art in affirming dignity and collective memory. The partnership between MAR and Instituto Moreira Salles also highlights institutional commitment to socially engaged art.