Rochelle Costi (26 October 1961 – 30 October 2022) was a Brazilian visual artist primarily known for her work in photography. Born in São Paulo, she studied at the Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA) of the University of São Paulo, where she earned a degree in visual communication. Costi began her artistic career in the 1980s, initially engaging with painting and later shifting focus to photography, video, and installation.
Artistic practice
Costi’s photographic work is characterized by a conceptual approach that explores themes of perception, urban space, and the relationship between the viewer and the observed. She frequently employed a documentary style, often incorporating found objects, street scenes, and spontaneous moments to construct narratives that blur the boundaries between reality and constructed imagery. Her practice also included collaborations with musicians and other artists, resulting in interdisciplinary projects.
Major exhibitions and collections
Costi’s work has been exhibited internationally. Notable solo exhibitions include shows at the Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP) (1995), the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (2000), and the Centre Pompidou in Paris (2003). She participated in group exhibitions such as the São Paulo Biennial (1998) and the Venice Biennale (2001). Her photographs are held in the permanent collections of institutions including MASP, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
Recognition
Throughout her career, Costi received several awards and honors, among them the 2001 Prêmio Nacional de Fotografia (National Photography Prize) awarded by the Brazilian Ministry of Culture, and a 2008 fellowship from the Guggenheim Foundation.
Later life and legacy
Rochelle Costi continued to work and exhibit until her death in São Paulo in 2022. She is regarded as a significant figure in contemporary Brazilian photography, noted for her innovative blending of documentary aesthetics with conceptual inquiry. Her contributions have been the subject of scholarly articles and retrospective exhibitions that assess her impact on both national and international art scenes.