The Hand of Man

Stride Arts Solo Exhibition:

Stride Arts is pleased to present The Hand of Man, paintings by Brazilian artist Totonho. The exhibition, showing over thirty colorful and meaningful paintings by renowned Brazilian painter Totonho, was on view from November 21 to December 15, 2019.

“We are honored to present Totonho’s first solo exhibition at our gallery”. “Totonho’s paintings not only celebrate the beauty and purity of nature, they also redeem one’s hope and inspire viewers to love and protect our environment, and to dream and to strive for a better ecological future.” The exhibition The Hand of Man takes viewers on an extraordinary trip through the Brazilian rain forest, showcasing its forest and fauna. The beautiful trees, plants, rivers and birds in Totonho's paintings remind us of the importance of nature. In addition, his critical paintings show the side of mankind we don't like; destruction, devastation, and even racism and the inequality it engenders. Still his critical paintings often have an element of the positive due to Totonho’s optimism and dreams of a better future for all. We wish to introduce and share Totonho’s story, art, and vision with New Yorkers and the world”,

Chang Ge Aaronson, Director Marketing Group at Stride Arts

© 2020 Stride Arts. Totonho signing the backdrop wall during opening night of his solo show "The Hand of Man" at Stride Arts.

Artist Bio

© Natan Fox. Image courtesy of the artist.

Totonho is a self-taught artist, who was born on the countryside in the state of Bahia. He started to paint at a very early age, living on his grandparents' farm.

During his adolescence, the family moved to Salvador, the capital of Bahia. There Totonho refined his craft and had his first exhibition in 1974. An invitation from Spain in 1988 resulted in his first exhibition outside of Brazil. Since then he has been touring globally and showing his work in Portugal, France, Spain, Great Britain, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Canada and the US.

Nature is the main subject of Totonho's work. By showing the beauty of the Brazilian rainforest, and the devastation of natural beauty by mankind, he aims to contribute to the preservation of nature. Many people worldwide, including composer Robert Irving III and photographer Roberto Dutesco, have been inspired and moved by Totonho's paintings.