Vik Muniz

Vik Muniz was born in São Paulo, Brazil in 1961. He lives and works in Brooklyn, New York and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Muniz began his career as a sculptor in the late 1980s.

A photographer and self-described ‘low-tech illusionist’ Muniz has created images in a wide-range of materials — from chocolate and sugar to junk and toys to creating images, often art-historical, that he records with a camera.

His work is in the collections of:

MOMA , New York, NY
The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Museu de Arte Moderna de Sao Pãulo, Brazil
Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, Japan
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX
The Tate Gallery, London, UK
The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK
Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, Paris

Vik Muniz was the subject of the Academy Award nominated documentary film Waste Land (2010) which followed his work with a group of catadores – pickers of recyclable materials – in Jardim Gramacho, the world’s largest garbage dump located outside Rio de Janeiro.

In recognition of his contributions to education and social development including his work with the catadores, he was recently named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Vik Muniz

  • Vik Muniz - Conversation with the Finance Inspector about Poetry, after Rodchenko

    Conversation with the Finance Inspector about Poetry, after Rodchenko
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum  
    Small size:  165 x 122 cm
    Large size:  244 x 180 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP
    Exhibiiton:
    Dada Fest. NCCA: June 2016
    Summa Summarum. NCCA: Jan - Feb 2010 (Small size)
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 165

  • Vik Muniz - Pro Eto, after Rodchenko

    Pro Eto, after Rodchenko
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum 
    Small size:  185.4 x 122 cm
    Large size:  274.3 x 180 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP
    Exhibiiton:
    Dada Fest. NCCA: June 2016
    Summa Summarum. NCCA: Jan - Feb 2010 (Small size)
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 169

  • Vik Muniz - Lengiz!, after Rodchenko

    Lengiz!, after Rodchenko
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Small size:  122 x 172.7 cm
    Large size:  180 x 256.5 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 166 - 167

  • Vik Muniz - Old suckers, after Rodchenko

    Old suckers, after Rodchenko
    2004
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Small size:  180 x 122 cm
    Large size:  267 x 180 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 171

  • Vik Muniz - Old suckers, after Rodchenko

    Old suckers, after Rodchenko
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Small size:  180 x 122 cm
    Large size:  267 x 180 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 175

  • Vik Muniz - Suprematist composition: white on white, after Kazimir Malevich

    Suprematist composition: white on white, after Kazimir Malevich
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Small size:  122 x 122 cm
    Large size:  180 x 180 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 177

  • Vik Muniz - Suprematist composition: eight red rectangles, after Kazimir Malevich

    Suprematist composition: eight red rectangles, after Kazimir Malevich
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Small size:  142.2 x 122 cm
    Large size:  213.4 x 180 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 173

  • Vik Muniz - Demon, after Vrubel (Pictures of Pigment)

    Demon, after Vrubel (Pictures of Pigment)
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Small size:  122 x 216 cm
    Large size:  167.6 x 302.3 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 162 - 163

  • Vik Muniz - Portrait of a boy in painted shirt, after Ilya Mashkov

    Portrait of a boy in painted shirt, after Ilya Mashkov
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Small size:  160 x 122 cm
    Large size:  241 x 180 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 161

  • Vik Muniz - The Apotheosis of war, after Vereshchagin (Pictures of Pigment)

    The Apotheosis of war, after Vereshchagin (Pictures of Pigment)
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Small size: 122 x 188 cm
    Large size: 180 x 282 cm
    Edition: 6+4AP

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 158 - 159

  • Vik Muniz - Flowers in blue and white vase, after Chardin. «Pictures of magazines».

    Flowers in blue and white vase, after Chardin. «Pictures of magazines».
    2011
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    228.6 x 183 cm

    Exhibition:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 99

  • Vik Muniz - Hercules and Omphale, after Francois Lemoyne. «Pictures of junk».

    Hercules and Omphale, after Francois Lemoyne. «Pictures of junk».
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    228.6 x 183 cm

    Exhibition:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 141

  • Vik Muniz - Karl Marx

    Karl Marx
    2004
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    152.4 x 122 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Persona Grata. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: 26 Feb - 21 Apr 2010
    Vik Muniz. Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 134

  • Vik Muniz - Almond Blossom, after Van Gogh. «Pictures of magazines».

    Almond Blossom, after Van Gogh. «Pictures of magazines».
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    228.6 x 183 cm

    Exhibition:
    Create Your Own Museum Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Jan - Feb 2007

    Catalogue:
    Create Your Own Museum, Gary Tatintsian Gallery, 2007. page 95

  • Vik Muniz - Apollo and the Cumaean Sibyl, after Giovanni Domenico Cerrini. (Pictures of junk).

    Apollo and the Cumaean Sibyl, after Giovanni Domenico Cerrini. (Pictures of junk).
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Diptych: 261.6 x 180.3 cm each part

    Exhibiiton:
    Price of Oil. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: 20 Jan - 15 Apr 2009
    Vik Muniz. Moscow Hause of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 146

  • Vik Muniz - Mayakowsky, after Rodchenko (Pictures of Caviar)

    Mayakowsky, after Rodchenko (Pictures of Caviar)
    2005
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Large: 180.3 x 122 cm
    Small: 114.3 x 76.2 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
    Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 135

  • Vik Muniz - Medea about to kill her children, after Eugene Delacroix. «Pictures of junk».

    Medea about to kill her children, after Eugene Delacroix. «Pictures of junk».
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    241.3 x 180.3 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 140

  • Vik Muniz - Mill in sunlight, after Piet Mondrian

    Mill in sunlight, after Piet Mondrian
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    246.4 x 180.3 cm

  • Vik Muniz - Minotaur, after George Frederick Watts. «Pictures of junk».

    Minotaur, after George Frederick Watts. «Pictures of junk».
    2006
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    218.4 x 180.3 cm

  • Vik Muniz - Atlanta and Hippomenes, after Guido Reni – Diptych. «Pictures of junk».

    Atlanta and Hippomenes, after Guido Reni – Diptych. «Pictures of junk».
    2006
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Diptych 236.2 x 180.3 cm - each part

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
    Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. pp. 144 - 145

  • Vik Muniz - Boy with a pipe, after Picasso (Pictures of Pigment)

    Boy with a pipe, after Picasso (Pictures of Pigment)
    2006
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    223.5 x 180.3 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 111

  • Vik Muniz - Death and Life, after Gustav Klimt

    Death and Life, after Gustav Klimt
    2006
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    180.3 x 198 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 109
    Create your own museum. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2006. pp. 90 - 91

  • Vik Muniz - Harmony in red, after Matisse (Pictures of Pigment)

    Harmony in red, after Matisse (Pictures of Pigment)
    2005
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    Large: 180.3 x 228.6 cm
    Small: 101.6 x 127 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 135
    Create your own museum. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2006. pp. 92 - 93

  • Vik Muniz - Nasturismus, after Fantin Latour. «Pictures of magazines».

    Nasturismus, after Fantin Latour. «Pictures of magazines».
    2004
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    287 x 193 cm

    Exhibition:
    We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Jan - May 2005

    Catalogue:
    We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2005, page 47

  • Vik Muniz - Rosie the Riveter

    Rosie the Riveter
    2004
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    152.4 x 122 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
    Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
    We can do it!, Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Jan - May 2005

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 135
    We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2005. page 39

  • Vik Muniz - Water lilies, after Monet. «Pictures of magazines».

    Water lilies, after Monet. «Pictures of magazines».
    2004
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    188 x 183 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Jan - May 2005

    Catalogue:
    We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2005. page 45

  • Vik Muniz - Olive trees with yellow Sky and Sun, after Van Gogh

    Olive trees with yellow Sky and Sun, after Van Gogh
    2005
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    180.4 x 228.6 cm

  • Vik Muniz - Atlas, after Giovanni Francesco Barbieri. «Pictures of junk».

    Atlas, after Giovanni Francesco Barbieri. «Pictures of junk».
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    228.6 x 182.88 cm

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007

  • Vik Muniz - Bouquet, after Henri Matisse. «Pictures of magazines».

    Bouquet, after Henri Matisse. «Pictures of magazines».
    2005
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    254 x 183 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 98

  • Vik Muniz - Still life with a Bouquet of Fruits, after Caravaggio. (Pictures of magazines)

    Still life with a Bouquet of Fruits, after Caravaggio. (Pictures of magazines)
    2006
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    183 x 231.14 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 100

  • Vik Muniz - Vulcan forges Cupid's arrows, after Alessandro Tiariani. «Pictures of junk».

    Vulcan forges Cupid's arrows, after Alessandro Tiariani. «Pictures of junk».
    2004
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    231.4 x 180.3 cm

  • Vik Muniz - Study of clouds at Hampstead, after John Constable. «Pictures of magazines».

    Study of clouds at Hampstead, after John Constable. «Pictures of magazines».
    2005
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    183 x 221 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

  • Vik Muniz - Diana and Endymion, after Francesco Mola. «Pictures of junk».

    Diana and Endymion, after Francesco Mola. «Pictures of junk».
    2007
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    228.6 x 180.3 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 142

  • Vik Muniz - The Education of Cupid, after Correggio. «Pictures of junk».

    The Education of Cupid, after Correggio. «Pictures of junk».
    2004
    Chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    246.38 x 180.34 cm

    Exhibiiton:
    Vik Muniz. Moscow House of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2007. page 143

  • Vik Muniz - Don Quixote in his Study, after William Lake Price

    Don Quixote in his Study, after William Lake Price
    Framed chromogenic print mounted on aluminum
    228,6 x 183 cm

    Exhibition:
    Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008
    Vik Muniz Moscow Hause of Photography: Nov - Dec 2007
    We can do it!, Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Jan - May 2005

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: 2008. page 120
    We can do it! Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2005, page 41 - 43

  • Still Life with Fruit and Vegetables, after Juan Sanchez Cotan

    Still Life with Fruit and Vegetables, after Juan Sanchez Cotan
    2004
    Framed chromogenic print mounted on aluminum

    Exhibition:
    Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: Oct 2007 - Feb 2008

    Catalogue:
    Vik Muniz - Russian Project. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow: 2008. page 101