Embu das Artes

About

Embu das Artes was founded by Jesuits in 1554, as just “Embu”. After renowned sculptor Cássio M'Boy moved here in 1920, other artists flocked to the town in droves, and the name was changed to Embu das Artes to reflect its new identity. Every weekend and holiday the entire downtown transforms into an open-air art fair, with the hundreds of exhibitors showcasing their wares. If you’re visiting on a weekday, fret not - many of the vibrantly colored buildings are artist studios, galleries, and craft shops, so you can still get your artistic fix. Don’t miss the Memorial Sakai, a museum dedicated to Tadakiyo Sakai, a Japanese farmer who became one of Brazil’s greatest terracotta sculptors. Even the churches here are art galleries, with the Capela São Lazaro showcasing work by Cássio M'Boy and Zé Santeiro, and the 18th century Conjunto Jesuítico Nossa Senhora do Rosário now serving as a sacred art museum.