Eliana Kertész

Maria Eliana Pires Mascarenhas Kertész, born in Conceição da Feira on May 14, 1945, and passed away in Salvador on March 26, 2017, was an influential Brazilian visual artist. Alongside earning a degree in Business Administration from the Federal University of Bahia, Eliana Kertész had a notable political career, being elected in 1982 as the most voted city councilor of Salvador for the PMDB, securing 17.3% of the valid votes. In December 1985, she took a leave from her councilor duties to become the Secretary of Education and Culture of Salvador during the second administration of her ex-husband, Mário Kertész (1986-1989).

In the arts, Eliana Kertész is especially remembered for her sculptures depicting voluminous female figures, which have become cultural icons, such as those installed in the Ondina neighborhood in Salvador. Her works are celebrated for joyfully and exuberantly expressing the female form.

Eliana Kertész died in Salvador at the age of 71 from cancer, leaving behind a significant legacy in both Brazilian politics and visual arts.

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Text: Blombô research and curation, with the support of artificial intelligence for content writing and structuring.