Mário Macilau

Mário Macilau (Mozambique, 1984) is a multidisciplinary artist and activist, best known for his photographic work, and is considered one of the “key figures” of the new generation of Mozambican artists. His photographs foreground identity, political issues, and environmental conditions, at times working with socially isolated groups to raise awareness among his audience not only of the many injustices and social inequalities in the world, but also of scenes of humanity, fraternity, victory, love, and hope, often taking portraiture as his point of departure, his approach being the key to unlocking a broader perspective.

In 2003, he began photographing and spent the early part of his career learning and developing his skills. In 2007, he launched himself as a professional photographer, secretly trading his mother’s mobile phone for an excellent Nikon FM2. Within a few years, his talent had reached the international stage.

Macilau’s work has been presented in solo and group exhibitions, such as the Dakar Biennale in collaboration with the Dapper Foundation, 2022. In 2015, he participated in the 56th Venice Biennale, invited by the Vatican Pavilion.

He has exhibited his work in, among other museums, Museu Berardo, Lisbon, PT; Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, BR; TATE Modern, London, UK; Vitra Museum, Weil am Rhein, DE; Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, ES.

He published his important book GROWING IN DARKNESS, with Kehrer Verlag, in Germany, in 2015.

In addition, he has received important awards, including the European Union Environment Prize (2015) and the UNESCO – Aschberg Bursary for Visual Arts (2014), among others.

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