Cristiano F Lopes Pereira

Cristiano F Lopes Pereira is a Queer, Latino, immigrant visual artist, who is influenced by his experiences coming from Brazil, which he describes as “an oversexualized and religious country.” He is a part of the gay diaspora, people who have left their home country in search of a more receptive society. Living in America, he explores multiculturalism and identity through portraiture, primarily working with paintings, photographs and digital images. Pereira’s work shows his interest in the human existence and its complexities, as noted in his artist statement:

“As a visual artist I’m interested in people, and the complexity of the human existence is reflected on the multi-layered aspect of my work. I mainly work with portraits and don’t restrict the media I use, since painting, photography, drawing, collage, video and digital images are for me in the same realm of interest: to represent the human condition. Like the internet, my work has no borders and is in constant revolution leading to different connections.”[1]

Pereira came to Buffalo for his PhD research, which has been rooted in reevaluating portraiture and painting through digital media, specifically using video installations to explore themes of gender identity and self-expression in relation to the gay diaspora.[2] His recent works have continued this exploration, with painting and social media being sources for his current artistic interests.

Since finishing his PhD, he has continued to exhibit in Brazil and in the United States. He has been featured in solo and group shows in galleries including the Koa Art Gallery at the University of Pittsburgh (2018), Sugar City Art Gallery in Buffalo (2017) and Gallery Q in Rochester, NY (2017). He has also worked as an art school director in Brazil for the last 15 years.[3]