Maria De Fatima Silva

To love, amare in Latin, is the most profound source of inspiration for human conduct, whatever the realm in which it unfolds. It is the guiding thread of my work. I live in a constant search for the creation of symbolic images that bridge past and present, intertwining them through acts of construction and deconstruction, through metamorphoses of countless elements that gradually give form and presence to a figurative and expressive visual language. My iconographic universe is vast and layered, where ancient symbols converge with the daily emotions and sensations of my inner world. I draw inspiration from deep study and research from archaeological and historical sites, from monuments and museums, and from literature, history, philosophy, mythology, mysticism, and spirituality. This process of research, a constant across all the themes I explore, was cultivated during my degree in Design, and it continues to this day as the foundation of my inspiration, methodology, and identity as a painter. Though a sense of universality echoes throughout my work, through archetypes that speak to the shared human condition, my central focus has remained deeply rooted in the earthbound and soulful essence of Portugal’s ancient spirit.

Born in Portugal in 1970, she graduated in Design in 1994 from a Lisbon-based institute. Between 1990 and 1993, she studied Painting at an art school in Lisbon.

Has exhibited in museums, galleries, and biennials, including: Convento da Graça in Torres Vedras, Palácio de Cristal in Porto, Geological Museum of Lisbon, Museum of Megalithism in Mora, Bread Museum, National Wine Museum in Alcobaça, Instituto Superior de Gestão in Lisbon, University Institute of Psychological, Social and Life Sciences in Lisbon, Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, International Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Madrid, Casa de Cultura of Ericeira, Casa de Cultura of Mafra, Hélder Alfaiate Art Gallery, Artur Bual Gallery, Sete Gallery, Luís Madureira Gallery, Convento da Terra, Por Amor à Arte Gallery, REM, Vila Nova de Gaia International Biennial, Camões Library in Lisbon, Santa Maria Maior Gallery, Cerveira Biennial, PeP Gallery – MNAC | National Museum of Contemporary Art.