Lapa gains mural “Seed of the Earth” in homage to Milton Nascimento

The mural was created by the artist Gugie Cavalcanti - Photo: Courtesy of the Special Secretariat for Human Rights and Racial Equality

Starting this December, the urban landscape of Lapa will feature the monumental presence of Milton Nascimento. Anyone passing through the neighborhood will encounter the face of the singer and composer, one of the main icons of Brazilian popular music, immortalized in a 300m² mural on the side of the YMCA building.

The work, entitled "Seed of the Earth," is part of the strategic initiatives of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall through the Special Secretariat for Human Rights and Racial Equality (SEDHIR). The objective is to fill the city with representation and history, to value Afro-Brazilian culture, and to promote reflection on the struggles and achievements of Black people.

"This initiative has a profound political character. Milton represents a generation that broke silences, opened paths, and built bridges. The mural directly engages with the set of anti-racist actions that we have been developing since Black November, to combat racism, promote self-esteem, and recognize the fundamental contribution of the Black population to the culture and history of Rio and Brazil," emphasizes Secretary Edson Santos.

Gugie Cavalcanti, a nationally recognized artist known for her large-scale works and for placing Black narratives at the center of visual arts, is the author of the mural. The work was executed by a team composed mostly of Black people, from production to height technique. Gugie was assisted by Tebla, Aira oCrespo, Doog, and Ricardo Coé, artists from the North Zone and Baixada Fluminense who represent the strength of contemporary urban art and who, for the first time, participated in the construction of a mural of this magnitude.

— This artistic intervention is not just a painting, it's an affirmation of presence. Milton is one of the most powerful voices in the history of Brazilian music, and his legacy has a force that transcends generations. With this work, we invite the public to slow down, observe, and, above all, see themselves reflected in the city's landscape. It's a reaffirmation that Blackness is at the heart of Brazilian cultural construction and deserves to also occupy the leading role in urban narratives — says Gugie.

Augusto Nascimento, son of Milton, participated in the mural inauguration event this Thursday (18).

"It's really nice that people are showing this recognition and affection to my father," said the businessman.

Black November in Rio was created in 2023 by a decree signed by Mayor Eduardo Paes. Since then, the date has become part of the city's official calendar, definitively marking reflections on the subject.

Born in Rio de Janeiro but with his heart in Minas Gerais, Milton Nascimento is 83 years old and gained international prominence from the success of the Clube da Esquina movement, which emerged in the 1960s in Minas Gerais. Nominated five times for a Latin Grammy and winner of numerous awards throughout his six-decade career, Milton received an honorary doctorate from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) on December 16th, in yet another recognition of the relevance of his work as an instrument of resistance and social critique.

About Gugie Cavalcanti

Born in Brasília and currently living in Rio de Janeiro, Gugie Cavalcanti has already produced more than 15 murals of Black personalities spread across the five regions of Brazil. The graffiti artist, art educator, and mother holds a degree in Visual Arts from the State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC). Her research spans painting, muralism, and relational practices, always positioning Black people as complete subjects, not just survivors, but living beings.

Among her works, Gugie pays homage to real-life figures with whom she establishes affective bonds, such as congresswoman Antonieta de Barros or the intellectual Lélia Gonzalez. Her most recent exhibitions are the group show Carolinas (2025), which honors Carolina Maria de Jesus (Caixa Cultural de São Paulo); Dos Brasis – Arte e Pensamento Negro (SESC); and the solo exhibitions Mudanças (2022) and Gestos (2020), the latter awarded by Pretas Potências.