What to do in SP? 10 cultural programs for May

The cultural scene in São Paulo remains vibrant in May, featuring an agenda that includes everything from theater premieres to major international exhibitions. Among the highlights of the month is the return of the play What We Only Know Together, which marks the reunion onstage of two giants of Brazilian dramaturgy: Denise Fraga and Tony Ramos, at Teatro Tuca. In the exhibition circuit, MASP is hosting unpublished works by Claude Monet in an exhibition that proposes an ecological reading of the production of the Impressionist master. And those who appreciate pop art cannot miss the largest exhibition of Andy Warhol ever held in Brazil, with more than 600 original works brought directly from the museum dedicated to the artist in Pittsburgh. Next, check out our selection of 10 unmissable programs to experience culture in the state capital!

Art

"Anexa_CCBB: Mimetic Movements" – Cultural Center of the Bank of Brazil

Until June 22, 2025, the Cultural Center of the Bank of Brazil hosts the artistic occupation "Anexa_CCBB: Mimetic Movements", which transforms the annex of the building into a sensory ecosystem inspired by biological mimicry. Curated by Lia Vissotto and produced by Cinnamon, the project connects art, nature, and technology to provoke reflections on sustainability and coexistence.

One of the highlights is the Atelier Marko Brajovic, which presents two unpublished works. Among them is the installation "R.N.A. (Natural Adaptive Resonance)", which investigates forms of decentralized "anarchitecture" — structures in constant transformation that engage with the projects and cycles of nature.

Where: Rua Álvares Penteado, 112 - Historical Center, São Paulo

"Andy Warhol: Pop Art!" – MAB FAAP

São Paulo hosts the largest exhibition on Andy Warhol ever held in Brazil. With over 600 works brought from The Andy Warhol Museum, in Pittsburgh, the retrospective occupies both exhibition rooms of the Museum of Brazilian Art of FAAP, gathering all phases of the Pop Art icon's career in an unprecedented exhibit in the country. Where: Rua Alagoas, 903 – Higienópolis, São Paulo

"The Ecology of Monet" – MASP

Curated by Adriano Pedrosa and Fernando Oliva, the exhibition gathers 32 works by Monet, many of them unpublished in the Southern Hemisphere, and traverses different phases of the artist's career between 1870 and 1920, organized into five thematic cores that explore from landscapes of the Seine River to the gardens of Giverny. Where: Av. Paulista, 1578- São Paulo

Water Eye, by Patricia Leite – Tomie Ohtake Institute

The exhibition showcases around 30 works that traverse the 40-year career of Patricia Leite, highlighting her emblematic "landscape sensations" — compositions inspired by memories, music, films, and photographs. Where: Rua Coropés, 88 - Pinheiros, São Paulo

Marga Ledora: The Line of the House – Pinacoteca

At the Pina Estação Building, the first institutional panoramic of Ledora features rare series and little-known works, highlighting "Quadrus Negrus" (1986), the starting point of her research with shapes and colors on black paper. The exhibition traverses themes such as landscapes, houses, and gardens, revealing the delicacy of the artist's line and her creative processes. When: Until August 24, 2025 Where: Pina Estação (Largo General Osório, 66 - Santa Efigênia, São Paulo)

Weaving the Morning: Modern Life and Night Experience in Brazilian Art – Pinacoteca

At Pina Luz, this collective exhibition explores the experience of night from different perspectives, addressing everything from the impacts of modernization to fantastic narratives. In "Weaving the Morning", the night is an artistic theme that reflects individual and collective experiences, such as dreams, leisure, and urban transformations, with unpublished works on display. When: Until July 27, 2025 Where: Pina Luz (Praça da Luz, 2, Bom Retiro, São Paulo)

5 exhibitions in the new MASP building (Pietro Maria Bardi Building)

The new MASP building is already open to the public with five exhibitions. "Isaac Julien: Lina Bo Bardi — a wonderful tangle" honors the architect through a video installation. "Geometries" explores the relationship between art and mathematics, while "Arts of Africa" highlights the cultural richness of the continent. "Renoir" displays 13 works by the French painter, some unpublished in Brazil. Finally, "Stories of MASP" revisits the museum's trajectory. Where: Av. Paulista, 1578- São Paulo

Theater

What We Only Know Together – TUCA Theater

Featuring Tony Ramos and Denise Fraga in the cast, the play proposes an intimate encounter between two actors and the audience, intertwining personal memories and collective stories. On stage, they reflect on the value of being together, celebrating the differences and experiences that each spectator carries. When: Until August 03, 2025 Where: TUCA Theater (Rua Monte Alegre, 1024- Perdizes)

The Sky of the Language – Sérgio Cardoso Theater

In "The Sky of the Language", Gregorio Duvivier transforms his obsession with the Portuguese language into a comedic and reflective solo. With sharp humor, he explores the power of words, their senses and absurdities, treating language as the origin of culture, humanity — and, of course, of laughter. When: Until May 25, 2025 Where: Sérgio Cardoso Theater (Rua Rui Barbosa, 153 – Bela Vista, São Paulo)

Rent a Boyfriend – Fernando Torres Theater

"Rent a Boyfriend" is a light comedy starring Eri Johnson and Juliana Knust, mixing humor, romance, and family confusions. In the plot, an actor is hired to pretend to be the ideal boyfriend of a young Jewish girl in front of her traditional family. What starts as a farce turns into a series of hilarious situations, complete with secrets, revelations, and twists. When: Until May 25, 2025 Where: Sérgio Cardoso Theater (Rua Rui Barbosa, 153- Bela Vista, São Paulo)