Meet Leonardo Pequiar, a photographer whose work brings together painterly color and a touch of the fantastical. Leonardo’s style leans into retro influences shaped by his time in fashion photography, with each image reflecting the emotional and symbolic layers of his journey. His photographs capture a raw moment’s intensity and often hint at his own experiences and vision.

“From 2020 onward, I entered a period of intense self-discovery. I felt deeply alone and self-knowledge became essential.”

— Leonardo Pequiar

Photo by Leonardo Pequiar, Self Portrait, courtesy of the artist. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Leonardo uses his art to challenge societal boundaries, exploring themes of identity, culture, and personal storytelling. Key projects include his 2016 examination of societal biases toward tattooed parents and a thesis on transvestites, dissecting themes of tragedy, love, and happiness. Currently, Leonardo is developing a project that delves into the lives of LGBTQI+ personalities in São Paulo, focusing on their unique experiences within a city that balances vibrancy with complexity. His photography serves as an ongoing dialogue with the world, inviting audiences to reflect and engage through his lens.

CREDITS: Audio: Sol Sant'ana, Rodney William | Doc 'My Darling': Alícia Pietá, Patrícia Dawson, Dediane Souza, Renata Sampaio, Labelle Rainbow | Doc 'Tattooed Moms and Dads': Sol Sant'Ana, Diego Quântico, Mayara Soares, Kin Benevides, Gisele Lima | Doc 'LGBTQ+ Personalities in São Paulo': Guilhermina Urze
Friends: Kayky Araújo, Lidi Fernandes, Karol Alcântara, Ingrid Araújo, Juliana Monteiro, Simone Monteiro, Karma Sampaio, Kareym, Lua Sal, Andresa Barbosa, Wedson Gomes, Emanuelle Ribeiro, Izabelle Coutinho, Lara Feitosa, Thayna Santos, Kris Lopes, Laura Beatriz, Rodrigo Buson, Priscilla Paola, Glamour Garcia
Beauty Artists: Dani Dantas, Rafael Rosa, Mia Fidelis, Carol Prada, Gabriel Babolim, Clarissa | Theater (Transvestite Collective): Alícia Pietá, Silvero Pereira, Patrícia Dawson, Deydianne Piaf, Veronica Valenttino, Yasmin Salvador
Stylists: Alessandro Lázaro, Rafael Bento, Khetelyn Bruna, Pollux Priscila, Rodrigo Amaro | Models: Emanuelle Ribeiro, Izabelle Coutinho, Candombá, Laura Beatriz, Kris Lopes, Gabi Ludtke, Leticia Dewes, Larissa Torres, Isaac Merenciano, Jr Baia, Fabe Robison, Lean Mattioli, Dryca, John Hebert, Bruna Oliva, Juliane Ferraz, Mia Azevedo, Lary Birino, Francisca Alves, Victor Mata, Leticia Maria, Gabriela Gomes, Gisele Lima, Larissa Santana, Weyni, Zurich
Agencies: Mega Models, Way Models, Joy Models

Photo by Leonardo Pequiar, Fashion, courtesy of the artist. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Photo by Leonardo Pequiar, Gender Politics, courtesy of the artist. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

With your signature style mixing vivid colors and fantastical elements, could you explore how you were drawn to this approach in photography? What or who were your major influences?

Much of my inspiration comes from films, comics (I’m a big fan of X-Men), and artistically inclined TV programs. Growing up in a working-class family, I was always captivated by what I could watch on TV. I’ve long been drawn to fantasy, horror, animation, and adventure films, and I feel these genres have strongly influenced my sense of color and style.
When I realized that photography would be something I’d carry with me for life, David LaChapelle and Sebastião Salgado were two visual artists I fell in love with and greatly admire. To me, LaChapelle is one of the greatest artists, and I love how he brings certain themes into his images. Sebastião Salgado is an artist and person I deeply respect for how he highlights social, ecological, and multicultural issues.

Photo by Leonardo Pequiar, Personas in São Paulo, courtesy of the artist. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Reflecting on the way personal experiences shape an artist’s output, could you discuss a particular moment or period in your life that has left a significant imprint on your work?

From 2020 onward, I entered a period of intense self-discovery. I felt deeply alone and self-knowledge became essential. It was the year I cast my first shell reading, made my debut publication in KaltBlut, and got featured in another Brazilian magazine. I continued exploring themes I began in 2016 with my Hecate essay and Mocking Mysteries. This year marked a turning point, as I arrived in the southeast, ready to begin anew after coming from the northeast.
That same year, I experienced a painful disappointment from someone I held dear, a friend who, over the phone, bluntly told me I should go back to where I came from. The comment was filled with arrogance and xenophobia, cutting especially deep as I was a newcomer in Rio de Janeiro. By the end of the year, I returned to Ceará to begin healing this wound that struck in a way I wouldn't wish on anyone. In the final months of 2020, I had a profound experience with ayahuasca that reshaped my entire perspective on life. In hindsight, I'm grateful for this individual—not for the hurt, but for revealing who I didn’t want to become, propelling me forward even without intending to. That year taught me to believe in myself more than ever.

Photo by Leonardo Pequiar, ‘Minha Querida’ 1º violence, courtesy of the artist. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Photo by Leonardo Pequiar, ‘Minha Querida’ 2º Peace, courtesy of the artist. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Photo by Leonardo Pequiar, ‘Minha Querida’ 3º Dreams, courtesy of the artist. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Considering the integration of spirituality and politics in your work, how do you approach these themes to ensure they enhance the visual and narrative depth of your projects without overshadowing your subjects?

Initially, I didn’t openly discuss the spiritual themes in my editorial work—I would simply choose the title and let the images speak for themselves. But this year, I decided to be more transparent about these influences, and it has resonated well.
Hecate was created as a final project for an advanced photography course, with the theme of “red.” Inspired by 15th-century events, this shoot critiques the lack of freedom afforded to women during that era.
Joyful Mysteries is a piece in support of Linderbergue Fernandes, drawing from the story of St. Teresa of Avila. Shot in a cathedral under reconstruction in central Fortaleza, this work was significant to me as it coincided with my journey of redefining my beliefs about God.
Fifth Dimension explores inner immersion and contact with other realms through meditation and spiritual guidance. The images represent female spirit guides, embodying themes of magic, shadows, light, and the four natural elements.
Odoyá is a tribute to Yemanja, the queen of the waters, whom I felt a deeper connection with while living in Rio de Janeiro. Through shell readings with a priest, I discovered that Yemanja has watched over me since birth. When I returned to my hometown of Fortaleza, I traveled with a friend to Taiba—a place tied to my adolescence—to capture images in homage to this orisha. The shoot featured two friends who are models and new mothers.
The Flowering of Processes reflects on our life cycles and the healing that comes with growth. Here, makeup symbolizes our wounds, emphasizing the resilience to continue forward despite our scars.
Áster celebrates the cosmic divinity within each of us, making us unique. This editorial captures a surreal, timeless sense of the multiple facets coexisting inside each individual.
Dreamer embodies dreams on the verge of being realized and the journey toward making them come true. It’s about embracing flow and trusting the path.
Eternal reflects the sacrifices we endure for our ambitions—the time away from loved ones, the postponement of leisure, and the investment in our goals.
Floating to Experience explores the journey of self-discovery and growth through life’s varied experiments. It emphasizes the transformation needed to become better versions of ourselves, with ancestry as a guiding force through these experiences.
Two Spirit tells the story of a cosmic being who descends to Earth to experience life in a human body, yet finds they do not fit within humanity’s binary constructs. Embracing this identity, they explore Earth, connecting with its natural beauty, before returning to their origin to share their earthly experiences.
The political aspect of my work stems from issues of gender. By photographing individuals from the LGBTQIP+ community, I aim to showcase our diverse identities and challenge the notion of us as a “minority.” I also photograph cisgender models in non-gendered, stylish clothing to blur the lines between traditional gender norms, bringing symbolism from past eras into today’s context.
This is the first time I’ve openly shared all of this, and I’m grateful to have it included in an article about my work.

Photo by Leonardo Pequiar, Mom and Dad Tattoed, courtesy of the artist. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

The project featuring tattooed parents addresses societal biases and prejudices. What led you to focus on this group, and through this lens, what broader societal issues are you aiming to highlight?

I am my mother’s only child, even though I know who my father is and lived with him for a while. He didn’t develop the affection of a father present in my life. And in a way, it did affect me. I focused on the issue of tattooed fathers and mothers because I wanted to know how they dealt with religious people about their choice to have tattoos. I also wanted to find out from other mums how they dealt with raising their children despite suffering prejudice from society.
I’m interested in developing other projects linked to spirituality. And also about ancestry, including my own. Because I had a historical erasure in my family, even before I was born. I believe that yes, it will be two subjects that will be relevant to me and I believe to many. Because in Brazil, indigenous people and indigenous descendants are repressed, and many tribes suffer genocide. However, I believe that these are subjects that I will soon have to talk about.

Regarding your thesis on transvestites, which explored complex emotions like tragedy, love, and happiness, how did you prepare for and execute this project to respectfully and accurately represent these deeply personal stories?

I became friends with a great woman, and I thank her whenever I can, Alícia Pietá. She was largely responsible for bringing me into the world of art when I couldn’t imagine working with artistic photography. Alícia Pietá was part of a collective called ‘As travestidas’, a theatre collective that dealt with issues such as drag, trans people in the theatre. I was the collective’s photographer for two years, and during that time I saw a lot of shows, one of which was the great ‘Who’s Afraid of Transvestites’. I remember that at the time, my thesis teacher said: if there’s a subject that touches you, talk about it. This phrase echoed in my head at the time, and I couldn’t think of anything else but to talk about it with these incredible people who were so kind to me. Since I was already close with everyone, talking about this subject in college was easier. It was a way of showing gratitude for all the time we shared together and for my friend Alícia Pietá.

In your ongoing project featuring LGBTQI+ personalities in São Paulo, what new perspectives or insights have you gained? How does this project compare to your previous works?

I believe in seeking deeper experiences. Over the years, I have grown a lot in my art and in how I can approach certain subjects. I sought insights into the LGBTQI+ community because São Paulo is a city well-known for its high rates of loneliness and, tragically, deaths. Many people come to São Paulo from other states, hoping to achieve their goals and live their dreams. But as someone who lives here, I know that pursuing our dreams comes at a cost. This inspired me to explore, through others, how people manage to experience this city.
The first person I looked to was Guilhermina, well-known in São Paulo’s nightlife scene. She’s very eloquent and unashamedly open about her work as a luxury escort. She doesn’t romanticize it and is even using her thesis to map over a thousand men who desire her, many of whom are the same people who wish her harm.
So, although I touched on the femininity of trans women in my thesis, I didn’t interview them about their lives. This new project now focuses on that.

Looking ahead, are there specific subjects or techniques you’re excited to explore in your upcoming projects? How do you see these new avenues shaping your artistic journey?

This year I painted a fire motif for a background that talks about rebirth and the moment of introspection we have. And at the time I was working on it, an uncle had passed away. So it was a very sensitive moment for me and I think it awakened something in me. And this awakening has to do with other possibilities in expressing myself. I remember when I was a child, dreaming of being able to draw beautifully. I also remembered when I used to write poetry. That’s what it all came down to. This background talks about rebirth.
I am currently working hard to become a great director of photography, and eventually a renowned cinematographer. I believe I’m on the right path. It’s something I feel will allow me to truly find myself, because I love cinema and know it’s a field where I can reach new heights. I’m excited for it to unfold in the best possible way, and I allow all of this to flow into my life and the lives of those I come into contact with.
As Silveiro Pereira, the actor who led the collective "As Travestidas," said: art saves. And like him, I was saved. I want to pass this on to future generations. I also believe my work will resonate deeply with others, as I pour all my love into art. It shapes me and drives my commitment to reconnecting with the ancestral.

Meet Leonardo Pequiar

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