Paço Imperial turned 40 in 2025, but the celebration will take place this year and this month! Starting March 28 at 2 p.m., the cultural center will host the major exhibition “Constellations – 40 Years of Paço Imperial. “ Check out more details on this major event!
Over 100 artists and 160 works in the Paço Imperial 40th-anniversary exhibition
Curated by Claudia Saldanha and Ivair Reinaldim, in partnership with the institution’s team, the exhibition “Constellations – 40 Years of Paço Imperial” will occupy 12 halls and the two inner courtyards of the Paço.
There will be around 160 works by more than 100 artists from different generations who are part of the cultural center’s history. Among them are Adriana Varejão, Amilcar de Castro, Antonio Dias, Beatriz Milhazes, Hélio Oiticica, Lygia Clark, Maxwell Alexandre, Roberto Burle Marx, and many others.
In addition, the exhibition includes a series of videos produced by Rio Arte featuring some artists from the 1980s and 1990s.
On opening day, there will be an opening reception with guests, and throughout the exhibition period, seminars, workshops, and educational activities will be part of the program, highlighting the institution’s significant history.
The exhibition will be divided into thematic sections, bringing together different generations
Throughout its history, Paço Imperial has hosted exhibitions covering a wide range of themes. From contemporary art to folk art, including architecture, design, landscape architecture, history, and heritage.
And that is the premise of the exhibition “Constellations – 40 Years of Paço Imperial, ” focusing on the idea of gathering, without hierarchy.
Thus, bringing together contemporary artists and popular artists, uniting different generations, techniques, and media, the exhibition is organized into nine thematic sections.
The exhibition will also feature a timeline tracing the history of Paço Imperial since its construction!
The oldest in downtown Rio de Janeiro
The Paço Imperial Heritage Cultural Center was founded on March 6, 1985, and is the oldest in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
However, the iconic Paço building has a rich history! Built in 1733 and inaugurated in 1743, it was first used as the House of the Viceroys of Brazil.
With the arrival of the Court of King João VI in Rio de Janeiro in 1808, it became the Royal Palace and the seat of government during the Kingdom and the Empire. After the Proclamation of the Republic in 1889, it housed the Central Post and Telegraph Office.
It is worth noting that, according to the city’s first scale map and archaeological remains, the Paço Imperial also housed the Royal Mint and the King’s Storehouse.
And more: it was the scene of important events in Brazilian history, such as the ” Dia do Fico ” and the Abolition of Slavery!
After many years, as early as 1983, the Paço Imperial underwent a restoration, reviving its historical essence and becoming a landmark in contemporary art.
In 1985, after being restored, it became a cultural center affiliated with IPHAN.
Constellations – 40 Years of Paço Imperial
Opening: March 28, 2026, at 2 p.m.
📅through June 7, 2026 | Tuesday through Sunday and holidays, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
📌Praça XV de Novembro, 48 – Downtown
💵Free admission