Maria Helena Vieira da Silva

Born:

June 13, 1908, Lisbon, Portugal

Died:

March 6, 1992, Paris, France

Nationality:

Portuguese, later French (naturalized)

Profession(s):

Painter, Printmaker

Early Life and Education

• Began drawing and painting as a child.
• Studied at the Academia de Belas-Artes in Lisbon.
• Moved to Paris in 1928 and studied sculpture with Antoine Bourdelle.
• Briefly studied painting with Fernand Léger and Charles Dufresne.

Career and Major Achievements

• Developed a distinctive abstract style characterized by labyrinthine spaces and fragmented perspectives.
• Her first solo exhibition was in Paris in 1933.
• During World War II, she and her husband, Arpad Szenes, lived in Brazil, returning to Paris in 1947.
• Represented Portugal at the Venice Biennale in 1954.
• Received the French Legion of Honor.
• First woman to be awarded the French Grand Prix National des Arts in 1966.
• Established the Vieira da Silva - Arpad Szenes Foundation in Lisbon in 1990.

Notable Works

• The Game of Chess (1943)
• The Intimate City (1951)
• Library in Flames (1974)

Legacy and Impact

Maria Helena Vieira da Silva is recognized as one of the most significant abstract painters of the 20th century. Her unique artistic vision and exploration of space and perspective have influenced generations of artists. This brief overview, while not a complete "about maria helena vieira da silva biography", covers essential details of her life and work.

Notable Works (Detailed)

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