In October and November, high school students from Centro de Ensino Ignácio Azevedo do Amaral (public school) and Colégio Notre Dame Ipanema (private school) in Rio de Janeiro took part in workshops led by Brazilian artist Marcela Cantuária as part of The Gallery: Learning and Participation programme.
Through a series of creative encounters, students explored their surroundings, created affective and sound maps, and experienced the artist’s studio practice. Together, they produced collective murals, poetic posters, and symbolic planting works that reflect themes of coexistence, interdependence, and care for the planet.
Marcela’s workshops unfolded across six sessions, each with a distinct focus:
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The Studio as a Forest – sensory observation and collage-painting
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Territory and Memory – connecting personal memories to landscapes through affective maps
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Voices of the Earth – transforming listening into visual images
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Body and Community – collective mural-making
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Imagining Futures – poetic posters for public space
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Earth Ritual (Closing) – symbolic planting and celebration of the creative journey
Marcela Cantuária, known for her socially and environmentally engaged practice, guided students to see art not only as a space of imagination but also as a tool for transformation.
“What impressed me most was the students’ commitment to climate emergency issues. Beyond creativity, they engaged seriously with themes such as environmental racism and climate justice, understanding how art can raise awareness and inspire change. Art doesn’t change the world — it changes people, and people change the world, says the famous citation by Herbert Marcuse”, noted Marcela Cantuária.
This collaborative process in Brazil will be mirrored in London, where students from Greig City Academy and St. Saviour’s and St. Olave’s School will join workshops led by UK artist Annie Frost Nicholson in December and January. The resulting artwork will be showcased in March 2026 at OOH media in Rio de Janeiro and in London, continuing the dialogue between schools, cultures, and perspectives on climate change that is part of The Gallery Season 5, by Artichoke Trust.