Lixero “bandolero”

From the outskirts of São Paulo, Selva presents the solo exhibition of punk artist Lixero (Trashman in Portuguese), whose hand-painted t-shirts have become an iconic staple of Brazilian DIY punk. Lixero was born and raised in Vila Carolina, an emblematic neighborhood and one of the cradles of the Brazilian punk movement.

Lixero comes from the city’s second wave of punk, a sweet troublemaker and one of the most beloved figures in the São Paulo scene. Whether at the doors of shows trying to sell his t-shirts, asking for cigarettes or booze, or pogoing to bands until he falls, Lixero is a mascot for the old punks and a legend for the younger ones.

His t-shirts are all based on album covers or artist photos, but he doesn’t seek perfection or realism. His unique style and special sense of depth, symmetry, and proportionality, coupled with limited color options of cheap inks, create new scenarios and expressions even more interesting than the original images he attempts to recreate.

The reference is obvious, but the t-shirts are unique and impossible to replicate, even by himself. His work has an authenticity and passion that only DIY can provide.

The results can be strange and imperfect, but always marvelous in their sincerity and creativity.

Curated by Mateus Mondini