Jorge Fonseca

Jorge Luiz Fonseca, born in 1966 in Conselheiro Lafaiete, Minas Gerais, is a self-taught visual artist whose artistic journey began in the early 1990s while he also worked as a train driver in the local railway network, a profession inherited from his father. His experiences in this operational environment and the manual skills gained from previous carpentry work deeply influenced his art, incorporating elements of popular culture, religiosity, and Brazilian folklore into his creations.

Jorge is known for his experimental and investigative work, which integrates traditional craft techniques with alternative materials, resulting in embroidery, collages, and colorful ornaments that capture the essence of his childhood experiences in rural Minas Gerais. His work is marked by a deep symbolic charge, echoing the artistic expressions of Arthur Bispo do Rosario and Leonilson.

In addition to his artistic output, Jorge Fonseca has a diverse career, serving as a fashion and furniture designer, art educator, creative and production director for artisan groups, and manager of a non-governmental organization. He is also the initiator and coordinator of social projects, demonstrating his commitment to the cultural and community impact of his art.

In 2009, his talent and contribution to the arts were internationally recognized with a production stimulus grant from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation in New York. Currently, Jorge Fonseca is a guest professor in the Art Department at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, where he continues to influence and inspire new generations of artists.