Salvador, BA - 1976
Lives and works in Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Tomaz Viana, known as Toz, is a Brazilian artist who navigates between the realms of graffiti and contemporary art. He was born in the picturesque state of Bahia and settled in Rio de Janeiro during his adolescence.
His work transcends borders, encompassing a wide range of techniques, materials, and forms of expression. This artistic versatility allows him to explore relevant themes and convey a playful sensation, inviting the viewer to immerse themselves in a universe filled with intense and vibrant colors.
Toz is recognized for his ability to portray narratives based on his own daily life, using autobiographical characters that have become his trademark.
Among the notable exhibitions in his portfolio are: in 2014, "Metamorphosis" at the Hélio Oiticica Cultural Center in Rio de Janeiro. In 2015, the site-specific installation "Joy Seller" in Paris, in collaboration with the SCOPE Project of the 13th Arrondissement Municipality. The exhibition "Insomnia People" at the Chácara do Céu Museum in Rio de Janeiro took place in 2017. In 2018 and 2019, the solo exhibition "Toz Culture Insomnia" toured the Caixa Cultural units in Rio de Janeiro and Recife. And in 2023, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC) in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, hosted the exhibition "All the Colors".
works
CHROMATICS CYCLES
A deep dive into painting and its chromatic possibilities, seeking understanding and balance between shapes and colors, inspired by the cometric and visceral repetition of Rio’s graffiti tags, blending the street’s energy with the calm of the studio. This series continues my work, reinforcing my path in painting without political discourse—shapes and colors expressed in a simple and direct way. While exploring new languages without abandoning the past, Chromatic Cycles deconstructs the well-known character Joy Seller into a geometric abstraction.
CHARACTERS
Inspired by comics, cartoons, and manga, Toz began creating his first characters in an autobiographical tone. He brought a family to life in ink:
Nina was inspired by his niece and several important women in his life, Old BB is a reflection of his own personality, which oscillates between grumpy and romantic, always with a hint of Peter Pan syndrome, and Shimu, a little monster that captures the essence of his adorable pets.
THE JOY VENDOR
“The Joy Vendor,” a character inspired by the beach vendors who roam Brazilian beaches with colorful balls, transcends its initial influence, amplifying its meaning and embracing everyone. Now in monochromatic versions, it reorganizes itself and connects hand in hand, representing a complete and necessary union without distinction of race and/or gender.
ZERO GRAVITY
The new series, “Zero Gravity,” Toz explores minimalist ways of portraying “The Joy Vendor”. What would be the elemental signs for representing this iconic character in his work? The artist delves deeper into his research from Neo-Concretism, deconstructing his character through a contemplation focused on form and color.
ALL THE COLLORS
This series represents a search for the alchemy of colors and the abstraction of shapes. It emerged in the complete immersion in the "The Joy Vendor" character, where Toz deconstructs and transforms him only in color and shape, using all the possibilities of combinations and giving movement to the work.
MONET'S SKIES
During a commissioned project on an 18th-century farm in Rio de Janeiro, Toz painted large panels of colorful gradient graphite. This phase seeks to capture the textures and movements of light and shadow typical of Impressionism, creating an imaginary and timeless encounter between the past and the present.
multiple
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