Director: Renata Xavier
Email: centrocariocadefotografia@gmail.com
Address: Travessa do Comércio 11A, Arco do Teles, Praça XV, Historic Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Zip Code: 20010-080
Tel & WhatsApp:
The Rio Photography Center was founded on July 26, 2024, at Praça XV, the birthplace of photography in Brazil and South America in 1840. Its headquarters is located at the epicenter of the country's history: it was in this square that the Portuguese Royal Family landed in 1808 and took up residence in the PaçoImperial (Royal Palace), the site of some of Brazil's most decisive events, such as the "Day of Stay”, which paved the way for Independence, and the signing of the Golden Law, which abolished slavery. In the same square stands the Old Cathedral where the coronations of the Emperors Dom Pedro I and Dom Pedro II took place, as well as royal weddings. This same region housed Brazil's first Stock Exchange, establishing itself as the country's political, religious, financial, and cultural center for nearly 300 years.
Nestled in the heart of Brazilian memory and history, the Rio Photography Center welcomed approximately 80,000 visitors to its headquarters in its first year of operation and showcased the work of over 100 photographers—numbers that add to an audience of more than 1 million people reached through exhibitions held in other cities and countries. The mission of the Rio Photography Center is to foster and preserve the visual memory of Rio de Janeiro, one of the most photogenic cities in the world.
Conceived by photographer Renata Xavier—a professional with over 20 years of experience who has published articles and covers in Brazil's leading newspapers and magazines, won national and international awards, served as a speaker at various conferences, and was selected by Nikon as a Creator for Latin America—the project was carried out in partnership with photographer Leandro Lucas. Together, they renovated a historic listed townhouse at Travessa do Comércio, 11A, in the Arco do Teles, an important landmark of colonial architecture. The building is neighboring the former residence of Carmen Miranda, a Brazilian artist known worldwide through classic Hollywood films and samba music.
As part of the City of Rio's City Hall Reviver Cultural program, the Rio Photography Center contributes to the revitalization of downtown Rio and is located alongside cultural institutions such as the Paço Imperial, the CCBB, the Casa França-Brasil, and the Correios Cultural Center, in one of the city's most culturally rich tourist areas.
The creation of a space dedicated to imagery in the birthplace of Brazilian photography was a long-held dream of Renata and all those passionate about this universal visual language. It was at Praça XV, on January 8, 1840, that the French abbot Louis Comte took the first photograph in South America using his daguerreotype. Emperor Dom Pedro II, who lived there in the Palace, was Brazil's first photographer and image collector, encouraging pioneers such as Marc Ferrez, Revert Henrique Klumb, and Joaquim Insley Pacheco, who immortalized the daily life and landscapes of Old Rio.
Throughout the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, this territory—where Brazil was born as a nation—continued to be portrayed by great names in photography. The Rio Photography Center seeks to honor and promote this legacy, establishing itself as a meeting point between contemporary visual storytellers and the public.
It is, therefore, a space of memory and celebration: of brazilian history, culture, and diversity. An invitation to see, discover, and be enchanted by the beauty and life of one of the world's most dazzling cities and the country that captivates all who visit.
It is a great honor for the Rio Photography Center to become a FIAP Exhibition Centre, which will enable the exchange of photographic knowledge from Rio de Janeiro and Brazil with various other countries through the universal language of imagery. FIAP (Fédération Internationale de l'Art Photographique / The International Federation of Photographic Art) is recognized by UNESCO and is the largest photography-related entity in the world, with approximately 2 million affiliated photographers in over 80 countries. We thank you for the opportunity to join this global federation of people who love to eternalize life. Renata Xavier Director of Rio Photography Center