Benjamin Silva

Born in 1927 in Juazeiro, Ceará, is a renowned Brazilian painter and printmaker. Self-taught in painting, Silva moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1948, where he studied at the Escola do Povo with prominent artists such as Inimá de Paula and Sigaud. At the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro (MAM/RJ), he was a student of Santa Rosa, and at the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios, he learned printmaking techniques with Orlando da Silva.

An active participant in the National Salon of Modern Art, Benjamin Silva's works were exhibited in twelve editions between 1953 and 1969, and in 1959 he was awarded the Travel Abroad Prize, which allowed him to expand his artistic horizons in Europe. He resided in Paris starting in 1960, where he attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière but left it due to disagreements with the teaching methods. During this period, he also traveled to the Near East, studying at various museums.

Returning to Brazil around 1962, Silva's work underwent a notable transformation, incorporating metropolitan elements into his compositions. From 1987 onwards, his paintings began to also integrate human figures, reflecting the urban dynamics and the complexity of cities in his work. His works, rich in detail and narrative depth, continue to be celebrated for their ability to capture and interpret the essence of urban environments and their interactions.