Works from MoMA and Tate Modern collections go on display in Germany for the first time — free admission, through May 13, 2026.
A hidden chapter of Brazilian visual history
Leica Gallery Frankfurt opens the exhibition “Modernity! Photography from Brazil (1940–1960)” on February 20, 2026 — a landmark group show introducing German audiences to a pivotal, largely unknown chapter of Brazilian photographic history.
The official opening took place on Friday, February 20, following an exclusive collectors’ preview on February 19. The show runs through May 13, 2026, with free admission.
Modern Brazil through the lens
The exhibition centers on artists connected to the Foto Cine Clube Bandeirante, a movement that played a decisive role in establishing modern photography in Brazil. The images capture an era of rapid industrialization, the explosive growth of cities like São Paulo, and the pursuit of a distinct visual identity in step with the international modernist spirit.
Rather than straightforward documentary records, these photographs treat the urban landscape as a field of visual experimentation — using lines, contrasts, rhythms, and interplays of light to create compositions of remarkable graphic rigor.
Photographers who rewrote the rules
A highlight of the show is Nelson Kojranski, exclusive artist of Kobbi Gallery. His archive has been the subject of three years of ongoing research and historical organization, curated by Rubens Fernandes Jr. in a project dedicated entirely to his body of work.
Alongside Kojranski, the exhibition features works by Gaspar Gasparian, German Lorca, José Yalenti, and Eduardo Salvatore — photographers who broke from traditional conventions to build a new visual language for a Brazil in deep social, urban, and cultural transformation.
The works gathered here belong to major international collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and Tate Modern (London), and are shown in Germany for the first time in a large-scale exhibition.
Kobbi Gallery: connecting Frankfurt and São Paulo
The exhibition is produced by Kobbi Gallery, in collaboration with Leica Gallery Frankfurt and the photographers’ families. The initiative underscores Brazilian photography’s place on the world stage, fostering a meaningful dialogue between distinct visual cultures.
Simultaneously, Kobbi Gallery continues to host a dedicated exhibition on Nelson Kojranski at its São Paulo space, open to the public through March 14, 2026.
Visitor Information
EXHIBITION: “Modernity! Photography from Brazil (1940–1960)”
Free admission
Dates: February 20 – May 13, 2026
Venue: Leica Gallery Frankfurt — Großer Hirschgraben 15, 60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 69 – 9207070 / +49 (0) 69 – 1310454
Email: info@leicastore-frankfurt.com
Website: https://www.leicastore-frankfurt.de/
Instagram: @leicastorefrankfurt
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am – 7 pm; Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm (and by appointment)
Photo: Press Release
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