Caciporé Torres Caciporé Torres Caciporé Torres

Caciporé de Sá Coutinho de Lamare Torres was born in Araçatuba, São Paulo, in 1932.

He began his artistic career at the age of 17, after being awarded the Travel to Europe Prize at the 1st São Paulo International Biennial. He is the only Brazilian artist still alive to have been awarded in that historic edition. He graduated in Law from the Faculty of Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro, and complemented his education with studies in Art History and French Civilization at the University of La Sorbonne in Paris.

In Paris, he worked in studios and developed works aligned with abstractionism. In Rome, he attended the studios of Marino Marini and Alexander Calder, and came into contact with artists such as Alberto Giacometti, Pericle Fazzini and Giacomo Manzù, who deeply influenced his formation. He learned bronze casting techniques and closely observed the discipline and dedication of these masters.

Caciporé: Escultura “ O Tempo” - I Bienal Internacional de SP
Caciporé: Sculpture “O Tempo” – 1st São Paulo International Biennial
Caciporé recebendo o prêmio “ Viagem à Europa” - I Bienal Internacional de SP
Caciporé receiving the “Trip to Europe” Award – 1st São Paulo International Biennial

Upon returning to Brazil, he began teaching at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado (FAAP) and at Mackenzie University in São Paulo, at the invitation of Flávio Motta. In that same year, he received the Itamaraty Award at the 6th São Paulo Biennial.

Monumento “ O Vôo” de Caciporé Torres - Praça da Sé -SP
Monument “O Voo” by Caciporé Torres – Praça da Sé – São Paulo

With the aim of integrating art into architecture and urban spaces, he established partnerships with architects, urban planners, and construction companies. His work stands as a synthesis between art and architecture. He is the sculptor with the largest number of works installed in public spaces in Brazil — around 80 pieces, most of them in the state of São Paulo. His sculptures can be seen in places such as Largo de São Bento, the Museum of Modern Art, Praça da Sé, Santa Cecília Metro Station, SESI São Carlos, Palácio dos Bandeirantes, among others.

Caciporé is the author of monumental works as well as smaller pieces in bronze and ceramics. He worked with artists such as Di Cavalcanti, Aldo Bonadei, and Hilde Weber. He has mastery of human anatomy and modeling and drawing techniques, which he applies with precision in his sculptures. An example is the work “Prince Philip of Denmark,” sculpted by him in 2002 at the request of that country’s embassy.

Obra Príncipe Philip da Dinamarca
Prince Philip of Denmark Artwork
Obra: Escudo - 2000 - Capiporé Torres
Art: Escudo - 2000 - Capiporé Torres

He participated in eight editions of the São Paulo International Biennial, the XXVI Venice Biennale, the II Paris Youth Biennale, the Rome Quadriennale, and all Sculpture Panoramas organized by the Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo. He held solo exhibitions at MASP, MAM, and MuBE, in addition to representing Brazil in various international exhibitions.

Caciporé na Inauguração da nova sede do MASP com a presença do Príncipe Philip da Inglaterra.
Caciporé at the inauguration of the new MASP building, with the presence of Prince Philip of England.

Caciporé had a special role in the inauguration of the MASP headquarters on Avenida Paulista, at the invitation of then-director Pietro Maria Bardi, his friend and admirer. He was invited to participate in the first exhibition held in the museum’s open esplanade. The relationship between the two was marked by mutual admiration. Bardi kept notes and photos left by Caciporé, and the sculptor still preserves the letters and telegrams sent by his friend to this day.

Caciporé’s art carries a social dimension that is uncommon in the artistic field. He works primarily with steel and iron in a scrap-state, using techniques such as cutting, welding, sanding, rebar work, and painting to create abstract-expressionist forms. He also models clay and casts bronze with the same mastery.

Caciporé has never stopped creating and today preserves a vast collection of works, many of them unpublished. His career is marked by continuous production, an original artistic vision, and his tireless pursuit of integrating art, urban space, and everyday life.

logo Caciporé
Primeira exposição no vão livre do MASP foi feita por Caciporé Torres.
First exhibition in the MASP open space was held by Caciporé Torres.
Legenda: Lorem Ipsum
The sculptor in the studio with some of his works

Awards

Caciporé has an extensive résumé, with exhibitions at the Rome Quadriennale, the São Paulo and Venice Biennials, as well as in several other countries. In addition, he has received numerous awards, including:

Public Works

The artist with the largest number of public artworks in open spaces in Brazil.

Main Collectors

See below the list of the main collectors of Caciporé's works.

Enter the World of Caciporé

View all available artworks →