Rose Catão, influential Brazilian visual artist, passes away

Visual artist Rose Mary Catão, known as Rose Catão, has passed away, leaving a significant legacy in the arts of Paraíba, Brazil. A painter, engraver, illustrator, and art educator, Catão was a prominent figure in the cultural development of João Pessoa.

Catão had a long-standing partnership with the João Pessoa Cultural Foundation (Funjope). In 2024, she was honored during the XVIII edition of the Municipal Salon of Plastic Arts (Samap), which was named the ‘Rose Catão Prize’ in her honor. Her work and contributions were also celebrated through a dedicated exhibition at Hotel Globo.

Marcus Alves, executive director of Funjope, expressed deep sadness over her passing, describing her as a ‘grand artist’ and a generous woman who was deeply sensitive to human relations and society. Born in Campina Grande in 1940, Catão had lived and worked in João Pessoa since the 1960s.