Catarina Cassage — Anarkia Boladona

Catarina Cassage


anarkia boladona (1981)

Explore the vibrant art of anarkia boladona (Panmela Castro), a Brazilian artist & activist. Her powerful paintings, graffiti, & performances address feminism, identity, and social justice with confessional intimacy.

Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Explore Brazil's artistic heritage at Pinacoteca de São Paulo! Discover stunning Brazilian art from the 19th century to today across three unique buildings and engage with immersive exhibitions.

An African woman enslaved in Brazil, Catarina Cassange fled to live in freedom when she was pregnant. Between 1838 and 1839, her owner placed several search ads in the newspaper Diário do Rio de Janeiro. As a well-known saleswoman, Catarina used to walk around Livramento Street and it was there that she was helped by other Africans during her planned escape. Aleixo, an African freedman who worked as a barber, helped hide Catarina in his house on Ferradores Street. She then got support to reach the Laranjeiras quilombo, where she gave birth to her son José.