Biography
Zé Kielwagen is an artist and educator who explores politics and spirituality through sculpture, digital media, and social practice. At ÍøÆØ³Ô¹Ï College he teaches in the Studio Art Department, designs curriculum in 3D art and serves on the steering committee of the Integrated Arts BFA.
Kielwagen is the founder and organizer of Museu da Umbanda, an artist-run museum dedicated to the intersections of Brazilian folk religion and contemporary art. Located at ÍøÆسԹÏ, the project engages audiences through exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and collaborations.
Alongside his work as an artist and educator, Kielwagen has a history of grassroots organizing and public engagement. He was among the organizers of the first LGBT+ Pride events in his hometown of Joinville, Brazil, and has worked with the largest social movement in Latin America, Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST). These experiences continue to inform his ongoing involvement with public and community-based projects, including ÍøÆسԹÏ's Big Parade.
Kielwagen's work has been featured in venues and programs such as: the Ghetto Biennale in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; the Queer Museum in Hanoi, Vietnam; and the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His service on the advisory board of Open Source Gallery in New York City reflects a longstanding interest in artist-run institutions, community-based initiatives and transnational exchange.
