The Prestes Maia Gallery was born in 1940, with the aim of linking the Anhangabaú Valley to Praça do Patriarca. More than just an underground passage, however, it has established itself as a space for art and culture! With more than 6,000 square meters of marble cladding, the gallery’s three floors are home to sculptures by renowned artists such as Victor Brecheret, making it a hidden treasure in the city.
For many years, the gallery was closed and suffered from neglect. However, after the renovations of 2024, its doors were reopened and it became one of the most curious hidden corners for rediscovering the center of São Paulo.
Its design is reminiscent of Soviet brutalist architecture, with little ornamentation and sober colors. For this reason, some say that visiting the Prestes Maia Gallery is like entering a Moscow subway station!
Galeria Prestes Maia was once a stronghold of São Paulo culture
Initially, the Prestes Maia Gallery was a meeting place for artists and intellectuals. Its art deco style and luxurious architecture made it one of the most elegant spaces in the city, the venue for exhibitions and cultural events. Its inauguration was attended by then-president Getúlio Vargas and modernist artist Anita Malfatti.
In the 1970s, the Historic Center entered a period of decay, and the Gallery followed suit. It housed the headquarters of public agencies and then a center for people with AIDS. But both closed their doors in the 1990s, leading to a new phase of uncertainty.
The situation improved between 2000 and 2008, when a partnership with Masp transformed the Prestes Maia Gallery into the “Masp-Centro”. The venue began to host temporary exhibitions and events, including São Paulo Fashion Week shows, which brought visitors back. After the partnership ended, however, it was left without permanent use and fell into abandonment, undergoing several closures and reopenings.
Why visit the gallery?
Since the revitalization of the Anhangabaú Valley, the Prestes Maia Gallery has taken on a new look: it now has the security of the Metropolitan Civil Guard and has once again attracted the attention of São Paulo residents. Its interior houses important works, such as the sculptures “Graça I” and “Graça II”, by Brecheret, as well as a bronze replica of “Moisés”, by Michelangelo, made by the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios.
The passageway remains without permanent attractions, but hosts sporadic cultural and artistic events. What’s more, strolling through its corridors is an event in itself, as it allows us to see works of art for free and explore a place that was once one of the most unique on the São Paulo scene.
