Brazilian performance designer, exhibition designer, curator, artistic director, and educator, born in São Paulo. With extensive international experience across theatre, film, exhibitions, and live events, Aby’s work spans creative, technical, and educational fields..
Currently serving as President of OISTAT – International Organisation of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians for the 2021–2025 term, elected in The World Congress in 2021. Active member since 2003, previously holding the role of Vice-President in 2013–2017 (www.oistat.org). The contribution to teh organization spans through a number of projects, including: Scenofest (2007, 2011), WSD2013 (Cardiff), WSD2017 (Taiwan) , WSD2022 (Canada), E-Scapes International Conference (Brazil, 2014), SENA2020 Egypt , SENA 2022 Morocco, SENA 2024 Serbia.
Awarded the prestigious Golden Triga at the Prague Quadrennial 2011 as Designer and Curator of Brazil’s National Exhibition. In 2015, Aby joined the PQ Artistic Team as International Curator for SharedSpace/POLITICS. Other international awards include the 2013 IDCA – International Communication Design Award for the MixMax Brasil project, created for the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam.
PhD in Theatre Practice and Theory, and MA in Performance Design from the University of São Paulo, with a research focus on the intersection of performance design, art installation, and exhibition. In academia, Aby’s career spans roles from senior lecturer to Head of Postgraduate Studies, with extensive teaching experience across BA and MA programmes in Performance Design, Exhibition Design, and Film.
As a designer, the portfolio includes a large collection of sets and costume designs for theatre companies, theatre independent productions, film production, and exhibitions. As an independent artist, the conception and leadership of authorial projects in performance and exhibition. These works have been developed in collaboration with artists and communities across Brazil, the UK, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Serbia, Sweden, Suriname, Taiwan, Japan, the USA, and Argentina. Recent highlights include artistic residencies in Brazil, Wales, and Scotland, and serving as a mentor for the 4th edition of the International Programme in Scenography in Constanța, by the Black Sea, organised by OISTAT Romania.
Over the past decade, Aby has delivered lectures, presentations, and workshops at many national and international events and institutions over 20 countries. Initiatives that reflect a commitment to fostering local and global engagement through creative exchange.
Aby Cohen 