From TIME · · 1m 10s
The curator rewriting how we see art history
Adriano Pedrosa challenges traditional hierarchies by placing outsider art alongside academic work at Brazil's leading museum.
In brief
Adriano Pedrosa challenges traditional hierarchies by placing outsider art alongside academic work at Brazil's leading museum. Museums can challenge fixed narratives by treating all art as equally valid, regardless of the artist's training or background. Originally reported by TIME.
Rewriting the curator's playbook
Adriano Pedrosa puts outsider art on equal footing with work by academically trained artists. He ditches chronological displays for thematic surveys.
Themes over timelines
Instead of organizing art by date, Pedrosa curates exhibitions around broad themes like childhood or sexuality.
A $43 million expansion
After six years of planning, MASP opened a new tower in 2025 that grew its exhibition space by 66%.
Unpacking Latin America
This year's curatorial program explores how the idea of Latin America was created and contested over time.
Defending art from attacks
Pedrosa defended a show by queer artist La Chola Poblete from right-wing criticism.
No single correct view
As political factions push fixed histories, Pedrosa's exhibits argue there's no one right way to view art.
What matters most
Museums can challenge fixed narratives by treating all art as equally valid, regardless of the artist's training or background.
