Robério Braga (1971) is a Brazilian artist. A photographer, cinematographer, and film director with extensive experience in the audiovisual field, he is dedicated to researching stories of resistance, cultural preservation, and the celebration of identities linked to the people of his homeland. Over the years, he has been recognized nationally and internationally, receiving awards in prestigious photography competitions such as Lens Culture, Spider Black & White Award, and Paraty em Foco. His works are part of important museum and foundation collections in Brazil and abroad, including Museu de Imagem e Som, São Paulo; Museu Afro Brasil, São Paulo; Museu de Arte Moderna, Salvador; Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Sorocaba; Museu Dom Luís I, Cascais; Museu Africano de Madrid; Fundação Carmen y Luís Bassat, Barcelona; and Museu de História de Santa Cruz.

Baroque Braids (2016) is part of the series Tranças Barrocas, which celebrates the beauty of natural curly hair in an exuberant way, inspired by classical Greek sculpture—a symbol of harmony and perfection. Afro-descendant models are portrayed with a sculptural dimension, like divinities in an “Afro Olympus.”

Photographed in Baroque churches in Salvador, the images create a contrast between European sacred art and the Black presence in positions of protagonism, subverting the colonial logic and exalting Afro-descendant culture with strength, elegance, and respect.

The work has been exhibited at the Museu Africano de Madrid and at the Centro Cultural Solar do Ferrão, in Salvador.