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Galatea is pleased to present the project José Adário: On Ogun’s Path at Art Basel Miami Beach 2024, showcasing the iron sculptures—also known as “orisha tools”—by Bahian artist José Adário (1947). Born in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Adário began his journey as a blacksmith at just 11 years old. Under the mentorship of Maximiano Prates, he honed his skills crafting religious artifacts for the Candomblé faith at a workshop on the historic Ladeira da Conceição da Praia. To this day, Adário continues to create in his studio at this iconic location.
The orisha tools are iron sculptures that serve as mediators between humans and the Osrishas, bridging the physical world (Aye) and the spiritual world (Orun). These tools are used in “terreiros” (temples of Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomblé and Umbanda) for rituals and devotion. Through his sophisticated and unique craftsmanship, José Adário is celebrated not only as a blacksmith-sculptor in the Candomblé temples of Bahia but as an artist whose work deeply resonates with the Afro-diasporic roots of his local culture—important in Salvador, often considered the most African city outside of Africa.
His work is part of significant permanent collections, such as El Museo del Barrio (New York, USA), Museu Afro Brasil (São Paulo, Brazil), and Pinacoteca de São Paulo (São Paulo, Brazil). In 2023, a major retrospective exhibition of his work was held at Caixa Cultural Salvador, titled Alágbedé — Retrospective of José Adário dos Santos.
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