João Francisco da Silva

1940, Girau de Ponciano | AL - Brazil

2009, Girau de Ponciano | AL - Brazil

João Francisco da Silva (born 1940, died 2009, in Girau de Ponciano – AL) João Francisco da Silva, better known as João da Lagoa, was born in the city of Girau do Ponciano, in the state of Alagoas, in 1940. For his whole life he lived in the rural part of the neighbouring town of Lagoa da Canoa, until he died suddenly on 29 June 2009, as a result of heart and respiratory failure, at the age of 69. The son of agricultural workers, João da Lagoa also always worked in the countryside and started to do sculpture as a “pastime”, to kill time.

With his work, João da Lagoa became the most important sculptor in the region where he lived. He worked on wood in a lengthwise fashion, with a simple yet contemporary way of getting things done, even though he still bore the mark of an impulsive, spontaneous and self-learning artist. As a Catholic, this artist had in his work the main references of the most popular saints of the Roman Catholic Church, while lacking the exquisite features of traditional saint sculptures. João da Lagoa left an important portfolio of his works which can be found in important private collections of Popúlar Art, and also in museums in Brazil, Portugal and France.

Source: artepopularbrasil.blogspot.com

Individual Exhibitions:

2014 Joao Francisco da Silva, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Collective Exhibitions:

2014 Almost a figure, almost a shape, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

2010 Home Scenario, Maria Antonia Penteado, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

2010 Pure Blends, Pavilhão de Culturas Brasileiras, Pq. Ibirapuera, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

2007 The Size of Brazil SESC Paulista, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

Selected Publications:

2014 Joao Francisco da Silva, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil

2014 Almost a figure, almost a shape, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil