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Maria Helena Vieira da SilvaFrench artist of Portuguese origin.
Date of Birth: 13.06.1908
Country:  France |
Content:
- Early Life
- Artistic Beginnings
- Marriage and Art Education
- Exhibitions and Recognition
- Wartime Displacement
- Return to France
- Artistic Style
Early Life
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva was a French artist of Portuguese descent. Born to a diplomat, she spent her early years traveling with her family to France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. At the age of eleven, she enrolled in the Lisbon Academy of Fine Arts to study painting.
Artistic Beginnings
In 1928, Vieira da Silva moved to Paris with her mother, where she met renowned artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Modigliani, Braque, and Mondrian. She studied painting under Fernand Léger and sculpture with Antoine Bourdelle. Additionally, she pursued interests in tapestry, ceramics, and book design.
Marriage and Art Education
In the same year, she established a close bond with Arpad Szenes, a Hungarian artist. They married in 1930 and continued their artistic pursuits together. Vieira da Silva attended the Académie Ranson under Roger Bissière.
Exhibitions and Recognition
Her first solo exhibition was held at the Jeanne Bucher Gallery in Paris in 1932. Subsequent exhibitions took place in Lisbon in 1935 and 1936. Vieira da Silva's reputation as a talented artist began to grow within the art world.
Wartime Displacement
With the Nazi invasion of France, Vieira da Silva and Szenes faced challenges as a stateless couple. Vieira da Silva lost her Portuguese citizenship, while Szenes was Jewish. They lived in Portugal until 1940, when they moved to Brazil.
Return to France
After the war, Vieira da Silva returned to France and, together with Szenes, obtained French citizenship in 1956. They continued to work and exhibit their art, gaining international acclaim for their contributions to non-figurative painting.
Artistic Style
Vieira da Silva's works are characterized by their abstract and geometric compositions. She often employed labyrinthine structures and infinite library motifs, creating evocative and imaginative paintings and prints. She is recognized as one of the most significant and respected artists within the movement of non-figurative art.
