Cartaz-Poema (Card-Poem)
Blazil, 1959
Letterpress on paper, mounted on board

Measurements
47 x 47h cm
18,5 x 18,5h in

Edition
Unique Piece

Exhibitions
1959 Livro-Poema, Jornal do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro
1959 Exposição de Arte Neoconcreta, Belvedere da Sé, Salvador

Literature
Willys de Castro. São Paulo: Cosac Naify, 2005, p. 32.
Willys de Castro. São Paulo: Pinacoteca do Estado, 2012, p. 192 (version of the work).
Willys de Castro: From paintings to objects 1950-1965. London: Cecilia Brunson Projects; São Paulo: Almeida & Dale Galeria de Arte, 2016, p. 49.

Provenance
Artist’s collection
Private collection, São Paulo

Biography
Willys de Castro (1926–1988) was a Brazilian artist, designer, and poet, known for his innovative contributions to the Neo-Concrete Movement. He was a key figure in Brazilian modern art, blending geometric abstraction with interactive elements that invited viewer participation.
Born in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, de Castro studied Chemistry and Industrial Design before dedicating himself to the arts. In the 1950s, he co-founded the Estúdio de Projectos Gráficos, where he worked as a graphic designer, developing his unique visual language. By 1959, he had joined the Neo-Concrete Movement alongside artists like Lygia Clark and Hélio Oiticica, emphasizing the integration of art and viewer.
His most renowned series, "Active Objects", consisted of geometric, three-dimensional structures painted on both sides, encouraging viewers to move around them to fully experience the work. These pieces broke the traditional boundaries of painting, transforming them into spatial objects.
Throughout his career, de Castro's work maintained a strong connection to geometric rigor, rhythm, and balance, while also exploring the dynamic relationship between art and the observer. His legacy continues to influence contemporary art, particularly within the context of interactive and spatial art forms.