SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Stella Jones Gallery, New Orleans, LA- 2007-2008
Negro Ensemble Company, Exhibit, New York 2008
Artist Showcase of Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, Fl. 2008
Masterpiece Gallery, NYC 2008
Art Jazz Gallery, Phila., PA 2007, 2008, 2010
Newark Airport “Latin Heritage Month” 2007
Breast Cancer Society LI, New York-2007
Savacou Gallery, New York, “Global Vision” 2006
Tina’s Gallery, “Oh, Brazil” 2004
Brazil Arts Gallery, Florida 2004
Tanya’s Gallery: “Brazilian Mood”, Atlanta, Georgia 2003
Mc Studio: “Mystical”, New York – 2003
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
American Crafts Festival - Lincoln Center, NY, NY 2010
St Stephen Art Show, Coconut Grove, FL 2010
Mount Dora Art Festival, FL 2010
Beaux Arts Festival of Arts, Miami 2009
Miami Beach Festival of the Arts, Miami 2009
Clinton Hill Art Festival, Brooklyn, New York, 2008
Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, LA 2008, 2009, 2010
Embrace, Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia- 2006, 2007, 2008
National Black Fine Art, NYC, Puck Building, New York 2008
Gallery Guichard, “Canvas of Soul” &“Art Di Gras” Chicago, Ill. 2008, 2009
Chicago Jazz Festival, Chicago, Ill. 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010
South Hampton Arts Festival, LI, New York 2008
Pier 57, Group Show, NYC-2007
“Off the Main”, Show, New York 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
“Global Vision”, Lambert Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia 2006, 2005
Erotica Group, Matthew’s Gallery, Tampa, Florida 2005
Brazil Arts Gallery, Tampa, Florida 2004
Christie's Fine Art Auction House, New York City - 1997
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
SEVAA- Southeastern Virginia Arts Association “Fine Art -1st Prize * Grand Prize Afram Festival * Official Artist for 2005 Chicago Jazz Festival * Nubian Women’s Circle of Art Award * Women Against the Wind, has been adopted by the Breast Cancer Society of Long Island, N.Y. * Work selected by the City Hall of Tampa, Fl. to represent Brazil Celebration * Personally, acknowledged by the Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor of New York for artistic contribution to The New American Art Show. The Dedicators, Inc., NY. Primary supporter of MoCADA during its inception through donations of art.
MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
Café Brazil, New Orleans, Blue Note, West Village NY, St Nicks Pub, Harlem NY, Lincoln Center
PUBLICATIONS / INTERVIEWS
Journal Do Brazil, LA News, The New York Link, Amsterdam News, Kansas City Herald, Lawrence Journal World. Sony, UpScale, InStyle, Homes of Color, UnFold, Fox News, Jump Up TV, Mahogany TV.
SELECTED PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Kennedy, Ruby Dee, Tina Knowles, Andy Garcia, Elza Soares, Cassandra Wilson, Tampa City Hall and groups like Steps Ahead & Hot Chili Peppers.
TEACHING & OTHER ART-RELATED EXPERIENCE
Taught ongoing courses and “Art to Heal” workshops for the mentally challenged and underprivileged in Rio De Janeiro, Georgia, South Beach Psychiatric Center (NY), at Family Life Center/Domestic Violence Center for Abused Women & Children (FL.), and Children of Karina, in New Orleans. Ernani continued his education and professional development in sculpture, music and writing, Pratt Institute, New York.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
ARTIST STATEMENT
“I appreciate my God-given talent and believe that art is a healing force. My inspiration is life itself by bringing joy, peace and healing through the power of my God given gift. My paintings are my way of touching ones spirit and soul of others. Art took control of my life and healed me from the scars of abuse. I have helped others in their healing process by sharing what I have learned.” Ernani initiated working with underprivileged youth in Rio de Janeiro as well as the United States offered the same opportunity to children and other individuals”.
Silva states, “My art is also therapy for me; it is a cathartic force in my life as well as others. My inspiration is life itself”. Additionally, “the material itself does not matter – the most important thing is the human feeling conveyed into the material. I work with various mediums and always concerned with creating new textural forms and compositions. By continually creating to infuse collages and multi-media I bring a new dimension. I work with canvas, wood, paper, glass, zinc, fire and other metals. In the process of creating collages a largely improvisational medium my thoughts are always with conservation, preservation, and recycling. Turning trash such as paper, empty bottles, broken glass, and discarded lumber into treasures is one of the solutions to the worlds’ problem of environmental pollution. It is my hope that my art embodies and incorporates “thrash” which will act as an inspiration for others. Additionally, I am also intensely concerned with the preservation of the disappearing flora, fauna, peoples and cultures of my native Brazil”.
Silva states, “My art is also therapy for me; it is a cathartic force in my life as well as others. My inspiration is life itself”. Additionally, “the material itself does not matter – the most important thing is the human feeling conveyed into the material. I work with various mediums and always concerned with creating new textural forms and compositions. By continually creating to infuse collages and multi-media I bring a new dimension. I work with canvas, wood, paper, glass, zinc, fire and other metals. In the process of creating collages a largely improvisational medium my thoughts are always with conservation, preservation, and recycling. Turning trash such as paper, empty bottles, broken glass, and discarded lumber into treasures is one of the solutions to the worlds’ problem of environmental pollution. It is my hope that my art embodies and incorporates “thrash” which will act as an inspiration for others. Additionally, I am also intensely concerned with the preservation of the disappearing flora, fauna, peoples and cultures of my native Brazil”.
BIOGRAPHY
Ernani Silva was born in Rio de Janeiro, where he encountered many adversities. At an early age of four Ernani displayed artistic talent, but his father discouraged any involvement with the arts. He welcomed the opportunity to relocate to the United States, where he was further encouraged as an artist. Ernani is multi-lingual and well-regarded in an international audience.
Silva developed a distinctive style which reflects his Brazilian cultural influence of Native, African lineage. His creations are an amalgam of dance, rhythm, music and color which voice his rich mystical heritage and history. Silva is passionately attracted to the expression and emotion of his traditional music and the spiritualism of Candomble ceremonies and rituals. Silva’s palette is the alchemy of intoxicating opaque colors, as well as incorporating the use of heavy impression to create vibrant lyrical dancing figures. His work speaks a sensual language, which gives the viewer a glimpse of his intense celebrated reality, through an intoxicating palette of opaque colors and expression. He has extensive exhibition, teaching and curatorial experience in a wide variety of venues over a period of 40 plus years. His award winning work is on display throughout various galleries worldwide as well as donated to museums.
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