ATHOS Type

what: typography
when: 2025

Athos Bulcão was a seminal figure in 20th-century Brazilian art, whose multidisciplinary contributions left a lasting mark on the country’s cultural and visual identity. Best known for his iconic tile work, Bulcão blended vivid color palettes with striking geometric patterns to create pieces that were both playful and profoundly modern. His art became inseparable from Brazilian architecture, infusing public spaces with a sense of rhythm, joy, and optimism that continues to define the aesthetic of modern Brazil.

This project is a typographic tribute to Bulcão’s unique legacy. Comprising approximately 150 glyphs, the typeface was designed in two complementary versions: a clean, traditional set, and a more expressive variation that incorporates decorative elements inspired by his tile motifs. The result is a celebration of Bulcão’s imaginative spirit—transforming his visual language into a system of letters that echoes the balance of structure and spontaneity found throughout his work.