Who We Are: Directors
ArtRio is the main project by BEX cultural productions, which specializes in visual arts and was created in 2009 by Brenda Valansi and Elisangela Valadares. Its main objective is to foster the production, promotion and distribution of Brazilian art in the country and abroad, promoting fairs, producing publications and bringing international collectors, critics and curators to the country. In 2011 the entrepreneurs Alexandre Accioly and Luiz Calainho joined the partnership, bringing new ideas and projects into the company.
Brenda Valansi
Her story with Visual Arts began in 2003, when she lived in New York. She studied at the School of Visual Arts of the Lage Park and at Rio de Janeiro's Catholic University (Puc-Rio), where she took Art History. Brenda Valansi is one of the founders of CRANIO, an innovative place for arts and culture, where she has promoted lectures, debates, courses and exhibitions. As a visual artist, she held solo exhibitions and participated in group shows in Brazil and abroad.
Elisangela Valadares
After graduating in Journalism and specializing in Art History, she joined the contemporary art market in 2000, when she took over the direction of the Toulouse Gallery, in Rio de Janeiro. For 12 years she has been promoting a number of exhibitions, lectures, debates and publications, aside from acting as an art consultant and dealer committed to keeping an eye on national and international young artists. Since that time, she started going to the main art fairs, both through the participation of the Toulouse Gallery, as well as a spectator and collector.
Alexandre Accioly
He is the biggest businessman in fitness in Brazil, with investments also in the gastronomy sector with the restaurants Fasano Al Mare, Gero and Forneria and in the entertainment sector with events such as U2, Robbie Williams, Noites Cariocas and Bailes Devassa. In the media sector he is a partner of Dial Brasil, the controller of the radio stations SulAmérica Paradiso and Mix FM.
Luiz Calainho
Head of the holding L21 Participations, he manages 12 different yet synergistic businesses. Subdivided into L21 Media,L21 Content and L21 B2B, the company operates since the year 2000 in the entertainment, media and content sectors, investing in the creative economy. With an entrepreneurial profile, he is always looking for new models and formats, in search of innovative business paths. He is responsible for businesses in vertiginously growing sectors of the market, such as: content and entertainment ('Aventura Entretenimento', 'Bailes do Rio', 'ArtRio', 'Oi Noites Cariocas', Stadium Rio), web ('Vírgula'), music ('Musickeria'), media ('Mix Rio FM' and 'SulAmérica Paradiso FM') and operations to a third party ('Acesso Distribuidora', 'Musickerama' and 'Inflama Rio').
