OSGEMEOS: In between is an exhibition of sculptures and paintings by the Brazilian artist duo internationally celebrated for their vivid and playful public murals and studio work. The identical twin brothers Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo—OSGEMEOS (the artists’ nom de plume; Portuguese for “the twins”)—create imagery that blends wide-ranging influences, from Brazilian folklore to hip-hop culture. The exhibition features eight mixed-media paintings and two sculptures. Many of the works are populated with large-headed, long-limbed yellow figures in whimsical settings. The works tell stories—sometimes autobiographical—of fantasy, family, social change, and how tradition and progress coexist in Brazil.
OSGEMEOS has produced many public projects, creating works on the sides of water towers, in a series of digital animations in New York’s Times Square, and even on the sides of a Boeing 737. “While their reputation in the art world is well established, with works in major private and public collections, OSGEMEOS has never lost sight of their desire to be accessible to wide audiences,” writes Frist Art Museum Chief Curator Mark Scala. Wherever their works appear, they strive to communicate the value of feeling over reason, to help people “fly away” into a realm of pleasure and childhood delight, if just for a moment.