The bronze statues of famous people like poets, singers, songwriters, writers, and football players are already part of our scenery and coexist with the passersby who walk around the city. Richly detailed, busts, life-sized installations and interactive statues remind us of some of the artists’ moments which blend with the history of the city.
Carlos Drummond de Andrade
Located next to Post 6 in Copacabana, the monument to Carlos Drummond de Andrade, the great name of modern poetry in Brazil. He is number one in visits and interaction by those who walk along the most famous boardwalk of the city. The work was installed in 2002 to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the poet and most influential Brazilian writer in the 20th century. The sentence written on his bank reads "in the sea, a city was written".
Carlos Drummond de Andrade (2002) by Leo SantanaRio de Janeiro Department of Conservation
Machado de Assis
At Presidente Wilson Avenue, center of Rio, we can find the statue of Machado de Assis, considered by many critics the most important and influential Brazilian writer of all time. His statue stays in front of the Brazilian Academy of Letters which he founded and presided; it was raised after a popular request to celebrate the 90th anniversary.
Tom Jobim
Between Ipanema and Arpoador Beach, a statue of Tom Jobim designed by Christina Motta receives you with a guitar on his shoulder. He is portrayed as in the '60s, when the Bossa Nova became an international sensation thanks to some of Tom's compositions as "Desafinado" and "Girl from Ipanema". The literally "new trend" is today one of the best-known Brazilian music genres, abroad merging samba and jazz and influenced hundreds of new artists. (1927 - 1994)
Tom Jobim (2014) by Christina MottaRio de Janeiro Department of Conservation
Noel Rosa
Noel Rosa (1910-1937) was one of Brazil's greatest composers of samba, known as the person who legitimized samba among the middle class. The Poet of Vila Isabel left a countless number of popular song hits to Brazilian music even though he died of tuberculosis at the young age of 26. (Photo: Alexandre Macieira.)
Clarice Lispector
Ukrainian, naturalized Brazilian, the award-winning Clarice Lispector is considered one of the most important writers of the 20th century and has been translated into more than 10 languages, from Czech to Japanese. Signed by Edgar Duvivier, the project was financed with the help of collaborators and with the sales of models of the statue to admirers of the writer. The chosen place for the homage was the Leme neighborhood, where she lived for 12 years.
Clarice Lispector (2016) by Edgar DuvivierRio de Janeiro Department of Conservation
Clarice with her companion dog, Ulisses.
Chacrinha
Walking through the neighborhood of Jardim Botânico, you can find Abelardo Barbosa, well known as Chacrinha. Considered one of the best TV hosts in the 1980s, he is wearing his classic costume: a suit with a bowtie, a topper, a codfish in his hand and the traditional horn hanging around his neck. Signed by Ique, the statue was installed in 2010 on the way to the old Theatre Phoenix, where the show happened.
Dorival Caymmi
At the end of Copacabana beach, near the fisherman way, the Bahian singer and composer Dorival Caymmi is portrayed at a common place in his songs: the sea. Inspired by a picture by Evandro Teixeira, Otto Dumovich authored the statue opened in 2008.
Dorival Caymmi (2008) by Otto DumovichRio de Janeiro Department of Conservation
Tim Maia
Born and eternalized in Tijuca, in Praça Afonso Pena, Tim Maia was responsible for introducing the soul in Brazilian popular music and recognized worldwide as one of the greatest music icons in Brazil. Signed by Cristina Motta, the statue weighs 150 kilograms, only 10 less than the singer. (1942-1998)
Cartola
The singer and composer Cartola cheers visitors who arrive to Samba Museum next to his Samba School, Mangueira. Authored by Otto Dumovich and opened in 2006, one of the greatest sambistas in the history of Brazilian music is portrayed in his traditional sunglasses and playing guitar on a concrete pedestal.
Cartola (2006) by Otto DumovichRio de Janeiro Department of Conservation
Ary Barroso
Famous composer of "Aquarela do Brasil", one of the songs that produce most copyright abroad, Ary Barroso obtained a bronze statue in the year of the centenary of his birth in Copacabana.
Luiz Gonzaga
In the front of the classic Fair of Northeastern Traditions in São Cristóvão, the statue of Luiz Gonzaga, King of Baião, is portrayed with his accordion and show costumes inspired by vaqueiros, the cowboys of the North-East of Brazil.
Luiz Gonzaga (2003) by Joás Pereira PassosRio de Janeiro Department of Conservation
Renato Russo
Defined by many as the voice of the generation of the 1980s, Renato Russo is the stage name of Renato Manfredini Junior, a Brazilian singer and composer, founder of Legião Urbana, one of the greatest Brazilian rock bands. He died of AIDS in 1996; his life-size bronze statue signed by Ique was opened in 2012 at Ilha do Governador, where Renato lived with his family during childhood.
Carmen Miranda
An American cinema star, actress and singer Carmen Miranda became the third most popular personality in the US, opening doors for the entry of Brazilian music in the world. Her bronze bust was installed in 1960 in Largo da Carioca, but it was moved to Ilha do Governador in 1970.
Carmen Miranda (1960) by Mateus Gervásio FernandesRio de Janeiro Department of Conservation
Otto Lara Resende
Otto Lara Resende pursued great journalistic activity in various periodicals and was elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters.
Ismael Silva
A bronze monument requested by the Estacio de Sa to City Hall to honor the samba composer Ismael Silva, founder of the block which became the forerunner of the first well-known samba school, Deixa falar. (Photos: Alexandre Macieira.)
Ismael Silva (2010) by Otto DumovichRio de Janeiro Department of Conservation
Municipal Secretary for Conservancy and Public Services: Marcus Belchior.
Manager Chief: Ana Luiza Toledo Piza.
Project Manager and I.T.: Rodrigo Kemel.
Photos: Daniel Coelho.
Text and Content: Amanda Cinelli.
Content SUpport: Lenora Vasconcellos.
