The “Amazônia” exhibitions bring the Brazilian Amazon to audiences around the world through photography, art, education and immersive experiences. From Amazônia Brasil’s 2008 New York presentation to Sebastião Salgado’s internationally acclaimed exhibition, the projects highlight the rainforest’s biodiversity, Indigenous communities and the importance of environmental preservation.
Amazonia Exhibition with Photos of Sebastian Salgado raise everyone’s awareness of the need to protect the Amazon ecosystem
The art exhibition “Amazônia Brasil” came to New York City following successful presentations in Paris, Lausanne and São Paulo. The exhibition later traveled to other international destinations, bringing the Amazon rainforest, its biodiversity and its communities closer to audiences around the world.
The project was created to raise awareness about the Amazon as one of the world’s great tropical ecosystems and to promote discussions about sustainable living, environmental protection and the importance of Indigenous communities.
During its New York presentation in spring and summer 2008, Amazônia Brasil occupied a 13,000-square-foot tent at Pier 17 and included a special educational curriculum developed for New York City third- and sixth-grade students.
Pier 17: A Walk Through the Amazon
At Pier 17 – South Street Seaport, the flagship 13,000-square-foot exhibition offered visitors a literal journey through the Amazon.
Life-size panels, photographs, sounds and installations recreated different aspects of the Amazonian environment, including its biodiversity, people, villages and cities.
The goal was to give visitors an immersive experience while encouraging a broader understanding of the region’s environmental and cultural importance.
Sustainable Design, Fashion and Economy
At the World Financial Center Courtyard Gallery, Amazônia Design, Fashion & Sustainable Economy presented Brazilian fashion and furniture designers working with concepts related to sustainable production and contemporary markets.
The exhibition connected environmental awareness with design, showing how Brazilian creativity could contribute to more sustainable approaches to production and consumption.
Guardians of the Forest and Amazon Education
At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, the “Guardians of the Forest” photography exhibition highlighted the Amazon and its Indigenous communities.
Seminars addressing climate change and Indigenous peoples of the Amazon were also held at different locations throughout New York City.
The NYC Board of Education incorporated lessons about the Amazon into the curriculum for school students, extending the project beyond the exhibition space and into the classroom.
Amazônia Brasil was sponsored by Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation, with support from the Amex Foundation and IBM. It also received institutional support from Brazil’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Environment.
The project partnered with organizations including the Central Park Conservancy, Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, NYC Department of Education, The New York Botanical Garden and World Financial Center.
Sebastião Salgado’s Amazônia Exhibition
Rio Cauaburi, Yanomami land, Amazonas state, Brazil, is part of the worldwide art exhibition with photos of Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado.
Another important project focused on raising awareness about the Amazon ecosystem and Indigenous communities is “Amazônia,” by Brazilian photographer and photojournalist Sebastião Salgado.
The exhibition celebrates the Brazilian rainforest, its landscapes and the Indigenous people who live there. More than simply documenting the region, Salgado’s work encourages visitors to reflect on the fragile relationship between humans and nature and on the beauty of an ecosystem under pressure.
The exhibition features more than 200 large-format black-and-white photographs produced during Salgado’s extensive work in the Amazon. The photographer spent seven years traveling through remote areas of the rainforest, documenting landscapes and Indigenous communities.
The exhibition was conceived and curated by Lélia Wanick Salgado and has traveled to major cities around the world, including Paris, Rome, London, Los Angeles, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Milan, Zurich, Madrid, Singapore, Mexico City, Brussels, Barcelona and Cologne. The official exhibition project reports more than 1.5 million visitors, while later presentations have pushed the worldwide audience even higher.
From Singapore to Europe and Brazil
In Singapore, Amazônia was presented at the National Museum of Singapore from November 22, 2024, to March 2, 2025. The immersive exhibition included more than 200 photographs, projections, soundscapes, Indigenous testimonies and a space dedicated to Instituto Terra, the environmental organization founded by Sebastião and Lélia Salgado.
The exhibition also continued its international journey in 2025, including presentations in Barcelona and Cologne. In Cologne, Germany, AMAZÔNIA – Photographs by Sebastião Salgado was presented at the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum from October 29, 2025, through March 15, 2026.
In Brazil, the exhibition reached Vitória, Espírito Santo, in April 2026, becoming the first exhibition presented at the newly opened Cais das Artes museum.
The international circulation of Amazônia demonstrates how photography and contemporary art can help bring environmental and cultural issues to audiences far beyond the Amazon itself.
Art as a Reminder to Protect the Amazon
Both Amazônia Brasil and Sebastião Salgado’s Amazônia use art, education and immersive experiences to connect audiences with one of the world’s most important ecosystems.
For Brazilian communities living abroad, including Brazilians in the United States, these projects also offer an opportunity to reconnect with Brazil’s environmental and Indigenous heritage while understanding the global importance of protecting the Amazon.
The message remains relevant: the Amazon is not only a Brazilian treasure, but an ecosystem whose preservation has global environmental, cultural and social implications.
FAQ — Amazônia Exhibition
1. What is the Amazônia exhibition?
Amazônia is an international photography and art exhibition focused on the Brazilian Amazon, its landscapes, biodiversity and Indigenous communities.
2. Who created the Amazônia photography exhibition?
The exhibition features photographs by Brazilian photographer and photojournalist Sebastião Salgado and was conceived and curated by Lélia Wanick Salgado.
3. Where has the Amazônia exhibition been shown?
The exhibition has traveled to cities including Paris, Rome, London, New York, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Milan, Zurich, Madrid, Singapore, Mexico City, Brussels, Barcelona and Cologne.
4. What is the purpose of the Amazônia exhibition?
Its main purpose is to increase awareness of the Amazon’s environmental and cultural importance and encourage reflection on rainforest conservation and the protection of Indigenous communities.
5. How many photographs are featured in Sebastião Salgado’s Amazônia exhibition?
The exhibition features more than 200 black-and-white photographs taken during Salgado’s seven-year journey through the Amazon.
