About Magnólia

Interests

An interest in visual arts led her to seek in philosophy a theoretical approach to this ample field of cultural expression. Focusing her research in Aesthetics, a subject centered around art studies, Magnólia Costa obtained from the University of São Paulo her PhD, Master, and BA titles, as well as a Teaching License in Philosophy. Her academic path is marked by research done at the Paris I—Panthéon-Sorbonne and Paris IV—Paris-Sorbonne Universities, as well as in the Louvre Museum’s European art collections.

Expertise

An expert in 18th Century French art and in 17th Century Franco-Italian landscape painting, Magnólia Costa applied her solid knowledge in art theory to introduce the Art Criticism course in the School of Art’s curriculum at Armando Álvares Penteado Foundation, where she lectured for ten years as Chair Lecturer.

Professional Path

Her professional path in museums started at Museum of Art of São Paulo (MASP), where she was part of the teaching body at MASP School. Following that, she began her long career at Museum of Modern Art (MAM), where she led the Research and Publications Division and acted as Institutional Relations Officer, and where she currently works as History of Art Lecturer.

Parallel to her teaching activities, she made expressive contributions to disseminate art theory by coordinating the translation into Portuguese of the monumental collection of essays La Peinture (Painting), organized by Jacqueline Lichtenstein and published as A Pintura by Editora 34. Magnólia Costa has also contributed to art in the 18th Century studies with new or first translations of great authors such as Denis Diderot and Marquis de Sade.

Experience

With an over twenty-year experience in lecturing, Magnólia Costa has compiled an ample repertoire of themes. As well as European art, she lectures on art criticism and Brazilian culture and art, encompassing a historical arch from the 15th Century to today. Among her current research, some highlights are relational art, museum actions in geopolitical contexts, and women-produced art and its presence at art institutions.

Knowledge

Combining rigorous analysis, clear language, and informality in her interactions with the public, workshops, talks, and visitations to exhibitions with Magnólia Costa are unique experiences in which depth and lightness are synonym with knowledge.

Magnólia Costa introduces criticism in the field of history of art—that is, she analyzes artworks in light of philosophical concepts and socio-cultural contexts in which they were created. Her workshops open a deeper field of reflection where approach to artistic objects favors synapses building and, thus, a new understanding of history.

Magnólia Instagram