The most comprehensive study to date of Helio Oiticica, one of the world's foremost practitioners of neo- concretism, who is internationally recognised for his innovative and participatory work. In his ingeniously constructed works, Helio Oiticica revolutionized the idea of interactive art. Accompanying the first full US retrospective of the Brazilian artist in over two decades, and the first ever to travel the country, this heavily illustrated volume captures the excitement and complexity of Oiticica's paintings, sculptures, and installations. Insightful essays by US and Latin American writers cover the entirety of his career, with special emphasis on his little-known New York period between 1971 and 1978. Thoroughly exploring Oiticica's most acclaimed works, such as the Parangoles and his groundbreaking installation Tropicalia, this book also examines his involvement with music, literature, and his response to politics and the social environment in Brazil. From his immersion in 1960s counterculture to his life and work in New York City and final return to Rio de Janeiro, this catalog charts the development of an utterly original talent whose work is both wide-ranging and thoroughly engaging. AUTHOR: Lynn Zelevanksy Is the Henry J. Heinz II Director of Carnegie Museum of Art. Elisabeth Sussman is the Sondra Gilman Curator of Photography at the Whitney Museum of American Art. James Rondeau Is the President and Eloise W. Martin Director of the Art Institute of Chicago. Donna de Salvo is Deputy Director for International Initiatives and Senior Curator at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Anna Katherine Brodbeck is Associate Curator at Carnegie Museum of Art. 310 colour