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RICARDO TELES

Freelance photographer born in Porto Alegre/RS. Since 1994, he has worked in the city of São Paulo in the areas of documentation and photojournalism, with periodic publications in several national and international newspapers and magazines, institutional projects and corporate reports. He was an independent photographer for the Estado group between 1996 and 2002, in addition to contributing to several other national magazines during this period. He has published prominently in the German magazines Der Spiegel and National Geographic Brazil, for which he received the Best Edit award for best international report three times.

He was a member of the Focus photography agency in Germany, which produced several reports in Latin America.

Author of two authorial books Saga - Portrait of the German Colonies in Brazil and Terras de Preto - Stories of nine quilombola communities, which received different awards and recognition for their cultural and social importance.

Ricardo's work is part of important photography collections and the photographer's various projects have been exhibited in museums and galleries in several Brazilian capitals, Africa, Europe and the United States.

 

Awards and Scholarships

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Languages

Portuguese

Fluent English
Fluent German
Fluent Spanish

  • • Militão Photography Award, presented by the São Paulo City Department of Culture (2023).

  • First Place, Sports Category — Sony World Photography Awards (2022), for a photographic essay on the Kuarup ceremony in the Xingu Indigenous Park (2022).

  • Finalist — Global Peace Photo Award (2022), with the photographic essay Xingu Waters, sponsored by the Austrian Parliament and UNESCO.

  • Second Place, Artistic Merit Category — Sinchi Foundation Award, Netherlands (2018), for a photographic essay on the Kamayurá Indigenous community in Xingu National Park.

  • Alfred Fried Photography Award — Nominee (2016), a peace photography award presented by the Austrian Parliament and UNESCO.

  • Third Place, Foods of the World Category — POY LATAM (Pictures of the Year Latin America) (2015).

  • First Place, Travel Category — Sony World Photography Awards, presented by the World Photography Organization (2014).

  • First Place — New Holland Photojournalism Award (2013).

  • Selected — Conrad Wessel Foundation Photography Award, in the Unpublished Work category, with the essays Encantados (2010) and A Estrada (2011).

  • Grand Prize, Ayrton Senna Journalism Award — Photojournalism Category (2003), for the cover story The Two Brazils, published by CartaCapital magazine.

  • CET Journalists Award 2001 — European Travel Commission, for Best Photographic Essay on Europe, for a feature on northern Portugal published in Próxima Viagem magazine.

  • Martius Staden Award (1999), presented by the Martius Staden Foundation for the publication of the book Saga, in recognition of its cultural relevance and contribution to strengthening cultural ties between Brazil and Germany.

  • Vitae Arts Grant (1998), for the project Quilombos, documenting rural Black communities descended from Brazil’s historic quilombos.

  • Photography Stimulus Award (1994), presented by the São Paulo State Department of Culture for the project Quilombos.

Publications

  • Germinar – Histórias de Transformação, a book featuring stories of social-sector leaders and their transformative work. (Auana Publishing, 2009).

  • Books from the África – Olhares Cruzados project, featuring Angola (2005) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2007).

  • A Pedagogia Waldorf – 50 Anos no Brasil, marking 50 years of Waldorf education in Brazil. (D’Lippi Arte Editorial, 2006).

  • CDI – 10 Anos de Conquistas Sociais, documenting the work of the Committee for the Democratization of Information Technology (CDI) across Latin America. (Microsoft / D’Lippi Arte Editorial, 2005).

  • Contributor to 24 Horas, a book documenting the activities of the Catholic Church around the world, with a chapter on the Amazon. (Vatican / Wilhelm Heyne Verlag, 2005).

  • Cidadão 21 Arte – Projeto Crisálida, documenting the work of art educators in the outskirts of São Paulo. (D’Lippi Arte Editorial, 2004).

  • Terras de Preto – Mocambos, Quilombos, book and exhibition documenting the histories of nine rural Black communities in Brazil. (A Books, 2002).

  • Contributor to Alma Feminina, coordinated by photographer Claudio Edinger, with the photographic essay Dona Maria – Mãe Velha, about a matriarch of the Jamary dos Pretos quilombo in Maranhão. (A Books, 2002).

  • Contributor to Alma Paulista, with a photographic essay on the city of São Paulo. (A Books, 2002).

  • Cardápio de Soluções, an institutional book for Nestlé Brazil documenting the work of non-governmental organizations in the field of nutrition across different Brazilian states. (D’Lippi Arte Editorial, 2001).

  • Institutional book for Microsoft, Inclusão Digital, featuring a photographic essay on Brazilian non-governmental organizations working in the field of education. (D’Lippi Arte Editorial, 2000).

  • Cuidados pela Vida, a tribute to Brazilian physicians, produced in collaboration with photographers Roberto Linsker and Pedro Martinelli. (Terra Virgem, 1998).

  • Saga – Retrato das Colônias Alemãs no Brasil, a photographic book portraying German immigrant communities in Brazil. (Terra Virgem, 1997).

  • Contributor to Axé, with a photographic essay on communities descended from Brazil’s historic quilombos. Edited by the School of Communications and Arts of the University of São Paulo (ECA/USP), coordinated by Professor Cremilda Medina. (1997).

  • Photographs for Frechal, Terra de Preto, published by PVN (Projeto Vida do Negro), an organization affiliated with the Human Rights Society of São Luís, Maranhão. (1996).

Solo Exhibitions

  • Transbrasilianas — one of fifteen projects selected for the exhibition and catalogue of the Discovery Awards 2022, presented in Braga and at the Imago Lisboa Photo Festival, Portugal (2022).

  • Terra em Transe — curated by Diógenes Moura, exhibited at the Solar Festival in Fortaleza, Ceará (2018), and at the Museu Afro Brasil in São Paulo (2022).

  • Histórias Mestiças — group exhibition curated by Adriano Pedrosa and Lilia Schwarcz, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo (2014).

  • Rural/Urban — group exhibition organized by the Syngenta Photography Award, Somerset House, London, England (May 2013).

  • Honorable Mention and exhibition of three works organized by the Latin American Photography Center, Casa Nacional del Bicentenario, Buenos Aires, Argentina (May 2013).

  • Laberinto de las Miradas — group exhibition featuring Latin American photographers, presented in 18 countries across Latin America and Spain between 2008 and 2012.

  • The God Factor — exhibition at Tibães Monastery, Braga, Portugal (November 2012).

  • Honorable Mention in the Iberoamericanos exhibition, organized by the Embassy of Spain in La Paz, Bolivia (2012).

  • Photographic exhibition of the Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM), São Paulo (2003), and Rio de Janeiro (2004).

  • Brasil e África – Similaridades — collaborative photographic project and exhibition with photographer Christian Knepper, curated by Dirce Carrion. Exhibited at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília; the Brazil–Africa Forum at the Banco do Nordeste Administrative Center in Fortaleza; the Brazilian Studies Center in Maputo, Mozambique; the Brazilian Embassy; and the opening of the Brasil–Angola House in Luanda (2003).

  • Brasil, Terra e Gente — group exhibition at Sandro’s Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe, organized by the Brazilian Embassy and Reflexo Agency (2000).

  • Mostra Brasil — group exhibition as part of the 2nd International Photography Biennial of Curitiba, including book and exhibition (1998).

  • Brasil, Mostra Tua Cara — group exhibition and book as part of the 1st International Photography Biennial of Curitiba (1996).

  • Sócio-Ambiental (1995) and Fotografia Brasileira Contemporânea (1993) — group exhibitions presented as part of the International Month of Photography in São Paulo (NAFOTO).

Collective Exhibitions

  • Transbrasilianas — one of fifteen projects selected for the exhibition and catalogue of the Discovery Awards 2022, presented in Braga and at the Imago Lisboa Photo Festival, Portugal (2022).

  • Terra em Transe — curated by Diógenes Moura, exhibited at the Solar Festival in Fortaleza, Ceará (2018), and at the Museu Afro Brasil in São Paulo (2022).

  • Histórias Mestiças — group exhibition curated by Adriano Pedrosa and Lilia Schwarcz, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo (2014).

  • Rural/Urban — group exhibition organized by the Syngenta Photography Award, Somerset House, London, England (May 2013).

  • Honorable Mention and exhibition of three works organized by the Latin American Photography Center, Casa Nacional del Bicentenario, Buenos Aires, Argentina (May 2013).

  • Laberinto de las Miradas — group exhibition featuring Latin American photographers, presented in 18 countries across Latin America and Spain between 2008 and 2012.

  • The God Factor — exhibition at Tibães Monastery, Braga, Portugal (November 2012).

  • Honorable Mention in the Iberoamericanos exhibition, organized by the Embassy of Spain in La Paz, Bolivia (2012).

  • Photographic exhibition of the Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MAM), São Paulo (2003), and Rio de Janeiro (2004).

  • Brasil e África – Similaridades — collaborative photographic project and exhibition with photographer Christian Knepper, curated by Dirce Carrion. Exhibited at the Palácio do Planalto in Brasília; the Brazil–Africa Forum at the Banco do Nordeste Administrative Center in Fortaleza; the Brazilian Studies Center in Maputo, Mozambique; the Brazilian Embassy; and the opening of the Brasil–Angola House in Luanda (2003).

  • Brasil, Terra e Gente — group exhibition at Sandro’s Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe, organized by the Brazilian Embassy and Reflexo Agency (2000).

  • Mostra Brasil — group exhibition as part of the 2nd International Photography Biennial of Curitiba, including book and exhibition (1998).

  • Brasil, Mostra Tua Cara — group exhibition and book as part of the 1st International Photography Biennial of Curitiba (1996).

  • Sócio-Ambiental (1995) and Fotografia Brasileira Contemporânea (1993) — group exhibitions presented as part of the International Month of Photography in São Paulo (NAFOTO).

Work on Studies, Collections, and Holdings

• Doctoral thesis by Professor Isa Bandeira entitled “The Feminine of Latin American and Mozambican Photography: Ricardo Teles, Hernan Diaz and Ricardo Rangel.” ECA/USP (2017).

• Permanent collection of the essay Terras de Preto at the Cais do Sertão Museum (2014).

• Acquisition of three works from Terras de Preto by MAC – Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura, Ceará (2010).

• Acquisition of the Terras de Preto essay by MUHNE – Museum of the Man of the Northeast (2006).

• Participation in the Photography Club project at MAM – Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo (2003).

• Acquisition of five photographs from the Saga essay for the Pirelli/MASP (São Paulo Museum of Art) Collection in the 2002 edition.

• Inclusion of eight photographs from the Saga and Quilombos projects in the permanent collection of MAM – Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo, curated by Tadeu Chiarelli (2000).

• Exhibitions at MUHNE – Museum of the Man of the Northeast and Cais do Sertão in Recife, PE; MAC – Centro Dragão do Mar in Fortaleza, CE; MAM – Museum of Modern Art; and MASP – São Paulo Museum of Art, São Paulo (2000).

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