Inspired by Brazil, inspired by Australia
I was born in one of the planet’s largest cities. Sao Paulo is busy. It’s grey yet colourful, noisy, polluted, super cultural, gastronomic, dangerous, exciting, full of cars, buildings, helicopters, motorcycles, injustice, social inequality: extremely rich, extremely poor people. Not an easy place... But I love it, my roots are there.
Speaking about love! That’s why I moved to Sydney. I am married to an Aussie, I met him on the Amazon. We bumped into each other in the middle of nowhere because we share a huge passion for travelling. I call Australia home now. It’s a fantastic country, perfect for bringing up our three children.
For years I took private oil painting classes in Brazil with a very talented artist. I kept painting as a hobby for more than a decade, until 2014, when I decided to take the plunge and create art for a living. Meanwhile, I worked in advertising as well as travel journalism. I have had two travel books published in Brazil by Panda Books.
Since moving to Australia, Aboriginal art and culture became an inspiration as much as Indigenous and African culture were in Brazil. I incorporated dot painting in my technique, always very aware and respectful of any possibilities of culture appropriation. I paint my own stories, my background. I paint Brazil, my experiences, feelings and desires for change.
I am influenced as well by Monet and other Impressionists; Van Gogh, Cézanne, pointillism, Matisse, Paul Klee, Brazilian art naif, Brazilian modernism, street art... Music plays a huge role when I'm painting. Samba, bossa nova and other Brazilian rhythms run in my veins. I am currently studying a Masters in Politics and International Relations, and I also love reading and listening about philosophy, sociology, anthropology and, of course, history of art. I am more than anything inspired by people, people who have fought, and who currently fight for a better world.