Lygia Pape worked in various media, including painting, sculpture, printmaking, film, and performance art. She was known for her use of geometric shapes and vibrant colors, as well as her exploration of the relationships between space, time, and the human body. In the early 1950s, she joined Grupo Frente and played a key role in the development of concretism. Her works from this period stand out for their transgressive nature, challenging the movement’s excessively rationalist approach, which prioritized industrial materials and techniques. 

A pioneer in the creation of artist’s books, Pape developed several series based on the book format, in which she explored the possibilities of creating narratives that could be physically manipulated or mentally reimagined by the viewers. From the 1960s onwards, she deepened her research into the active role of the audience in the creation of art, emphasizing the sensory aspects of artistic experience. In addition to these explorations, she carried out various video art projects, collaborated with Cinema Novo, and worked in graphic design, creating visual programming and film posters. 

Her extensive record of exhibitions includes solo shows held since 1959. Her recent solo shows include: Lygia Pape: Ação-Dentro, Almeida & Dale, São Paulo, Brazil (2024); Lygia pape: Tecelares, Art Institute of Chicago, USA (2023); Lygia Pape: a Multitude of Forms,  Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA (2017); and Lygia Pape: espaço imantado, Pinacoteca de São Paulo, Brazil, Serpentine Gallery, London, UK (2012) and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain (2011). Her group shows include seven editions of the Bienal de São Paulo (1955, 1957, 1959, 1989, 1998, 2010 e 2021), as well as exhibitions of historical relevance such as Nova Objetividade Brasileira (1967) and Projeto Construtivo Brasileiro na Arte: 1950-1962 (1977). Her works are part of major national and international collections such as the Hammer Museum Los Angeles, USA; Tate Modern, UK; MoMA, USA; Instituto Inhotim, Brazil; Pinacoteca de São Paulo, Brazil; among others.