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Graffiti Grace

TruthAtlas regularly publishes stories from across the web that celebrate the people who are

making the world a better place. We invite you to learn more about Panmela Castro, a TruthAtlas

Change-maker. This story first appeared on VitalVoices.org.

As a young woman interested in art, Panmela Castro was drawn to graffiti and its power to convey

a message. Living in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro as a young woman, Panmela became

immersed in the city’s dynamic art scene and began to establish her reputation as a graffiti artist.

Also known by her graffiti name, Anarkia, she fully embraces the transformative power of art, using

her work to raise awareness about women’s rights and to draw attention to the pervasiveness of

gender-based violence.

The Maria da Penha Law on

Domestic Violence against

Women, a law named after a

woman who was so severely

beaten by her husband that she

was paralyzed for life, was

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enacted in Brazil in 2006. The law granted legal protection for women, giving them the tools they

needed to combat violence against women. Panmela recognized this as an opportunity to

combine to her love for graffiti and her passion for women’s rights. Through a network of women

graffiti artists, Panmela began to raise awareness about the law in the favelas of Rio, where

access to information is often limited. By using her art to teach women and girls about women’s

rights, and forming a strong consciousness about women’s worth, Panmela enabled and

empowered those who were previously too afraid to speak up to share their stories.

In 2010, Panmela was honored by Vital Voices

during the annual Global Leadership Awards,

recognizing the impact of her work in advancing

women’s rights. Panemal formed Rede Nami soon

afterwards, an urban art network of female urban

artists that addresses gender inequality through

public art, graffiti and workshops in Rio. Panmela

now sees her mission as transforming the roles of

women in society. “Because people in Brazil think women are free, because women can be

political leaders, businesswomen, etc., they think there is no problem,” said Panmela. “But there

are still things that need to change in the construction of society. Society still dictates the role of

women and I want to work to change that and inform other women.” Her work, along with her

leadership and creativity, led the Diller – von Furstenberg Family Foundation to honor Panmela at

the DVF Awards in March of 2012.

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While Panmela is dedicated to her work in Brazil, she sees it as a piece of a larger puzzle wherein

women worldwide need to work together to create change. Today, Panmela travels internationally

to share her vision painting in cities across the globe, including Berlin, Paris, Stambul, Praga,

Johannesburg, New York, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.

Panmela has a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the School of Fine Arts at the Federal

University of Rio de Janeiro, and is currently enrolled in the Master of Arts program at the State

University of Rio de Janeiro. Panmela has earned herself a place among the most important

figures in the Brazilian graffiti movement. Her socially conscious art is known worldwide, for not

only the messages her graffiti communicates but for the precision and skill of her art.

Want to get involved?

The All-female collective Rede Nami based in Brazil is

empowering women through Graffiti.

Rede Nami actively travels Brazil, painting inspirational murals in

some of the nation’s poorest and most dangerous areas. The

women of Rede Nami also host many workshops for young girls,

teaching them basic female rights and of course how to express

themselves through art.

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