Rosana Paulino has been awarded the prestigious annual BMC Prize, a grant for artists who embody the innovative spirit of Black Mountain College. Based in São Paulo, Brazil, Paulino is an artist, educator, and researcher whose work focuses on social, ethnic, and gender issues, highlighting the stories, myths, and images of Black women in Brazilian society. Her diverse practice, encompassing drawing, embroidery, engraving, printmaking, collage, sculpture, and installation, delves into the history of racial violence and the enduring legacy of slavery in Brazil, shedding light on how memory shapes psychosocial frameworks.
Paulino uses archetypes and documents to intricately weave personal and archival memories, challenging the remnants of European colonialism that persist in cultural consciousness today. This year, a committee comprised of Beverly Adams, Johnny Gandelsman, Tina Kukielski, Helen Molesworth, and James Oles conducted an extensive search across various creative fields before selecting Paulino. Jeff Arnal, the Executive Director of Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center, remarked, “Rosana Paulino’s selection as the 2025 BMC Prize recipient continues Black Mountain College’s radical experiment across continents, acknowledging a practice that, like the College itself, defies simple categorization and views art as a means of inquiry, responsibility, and change. Paulino’s work aligns with the College’s longstanding dedication to social engagement and transformative interdisciplinarity.”
Established between 1933 and 1957, Black Mountain College was renowned for its principles of collaboration, experimentation, and democratic, non-hierarchical structures, aiming to prepare individuals for active citizenship. Its influence has spread globally, fostering diverse artistic expressions. The Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center is committed to preserving and expanding the legacy of BMC. The BMC Prize was created by cultural innovators Hedy Fischer and Randy Shull to support the most groundbreaking artists working in the BMC tradition today. Additional information can be found at blackmountaincollege.org.
