José Antonio da Silva
1909, Sales de Oliveira | SP - Brazil
1996, São Paulo | SP – Brazil
José Antônio da Silva was born in upstate São Paulo, son of the oxcart driver Isaac Antônio da Silva, and it was only when this great 20th century Brazilian painter was 37 years old when he first had room to create. Before this, he had a tough struggle to survive never-ending hard work. The mobility and instability of life as a worker on the land are mirrored in the endless travels of his father, and himself later, over the countryside. Taking meals to his father on a farm; haymaking with a hoe in hand; stripping coffee berries from the trees; digging earth with a spade; delivering sleepers and railroad tracks; cutting sugarcane and molasses extractor in a sugar mill; attending in a small store on the edge of the forest; bargaining for forest land to plant coffee and cotton; raising donations for a spiritist center in the city of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo State, and already married with five children, Silva built a ranch on the banks of a creek, where he “would chop trees” for the landowner. On this ranch began to do pencil drawings, and wallpapered all the walls in his home with them. After other heavy jobs, he finally settled in São José do Rio Preto as waiter and chamber boy. That was when his life took a turn for the better. In 1946 he sent Boizinhos, an oil painted on flannel, with two other works to São José Culture Center contest and won first prize.
Forty years living in São Paulo countryside left strong marks in Silva’s painting. The landscape prevails, where man appears toiling on the land, or at leisure: playing viola, dancing at parties, participating in religious or pagan festivals. Retrato Livre de Mordaça (Private Coll, 1978) reveal through his free brushstrokes, vibrant, building with color, the spontaneous expressionism and transport with which Silva creates. He is, however, a remarkable draftsman, showing the same spontaneity and immediateness of paiting in his drawings. In 1978 Carlos Augusto Calil produced the short film about the artist and his work Quem não conhece o Silva? (Who doesn’t know Silva?). On his 80th birthday, he had already been paid homage by various local governments in São Paulo State , the Museum Of Contemporary Art of the University Of São Paulo (USP) held a retrospective of his work, which won the top prize in 1990 in the category awarded by the São Paulo Art Critics’ Association. The tributes paid to him from both public and private sectors continued until his death in 1996 in the city of São Paulo.
Source: Little Dictionary of the Brazilian People’s Art – 20th Century, by anthropologist and poet Lélia Coelho Frota
Individual Exhibitions Nacional (Brazil):
2023 – José Antonio da Siva, Paulo Kuczynski Escritório de Arte,, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2021 José Antônio da Silva: Landscape and Culture, viewing room Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2018 I was born Wrong and I'm Right - José Antônio da Silva, Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2017 Jose Antônio da Silva, Galeria Almeida e Dale, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2013 José Antônio da Silva in two times, Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo (MAC-USO), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2009 José Antônio da Silva - Tribute to the Centenary of Birth, Pinacoteca da Associação Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2009 I was born Wrong and I'm Right - José Antônio da Silva, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2004 The way of the cross by José Antônio da Silva, Museu de Arte da Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
2003 José Antônio da Silva, Galeria Jacques Ardies, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2001 José Antônio da Silva, Ricardo Camargo Galeria, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 The passion and death of Our Lord according to Silva, Museu de Arte Sacra, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 José Antônio da Silva - Eighty-five years of life and art, Ibilce-Unesp, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
1988 José Antônio da Silva - Forty Years of Painting, Renot Art Dealer, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1970 Individual, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1966 José Antônio da Silva, Galeria São Luisa, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Collective Exhibitions Nacional (Brazil):
2022 Cristina Canale and José Antônio da Silva - Two Poetics, Estação Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2021 They Were Already Here, Galeria Base, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2020 Bailão de Dois: dialogue between two artists, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2019 Folk Art - Arte Naïf – no museum less, Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2019 The Sacred in Modern Brazilian Art, Museu de Arte Sacra de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2019 The stupidity of men, Bergamin & Gomide Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2016 Collection in transformation, São Paulo Art Museum MASP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2016 Childhood stories, São Paulo Art Museum MASP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2018 the visionary Theon Spanudis and your group of artists, Galeria Berenice Arvani, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2017 Queer Museum: cartography of difference in Brazilian art, Farol Santander Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
2017 Modern Art Market in São Paulo: 1947 -1951, Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2015 MASP in process, São Paulo Art Museum MASP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2013 33ª Brazilian Art Parorama, Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2012 - 2013 Janete Costa “Um Olhar”, Janete Costa Museum, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
2009 Brazil Brasileiro, CCBB, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2008 Brasil Brasileiro, CCBB, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2007 Live Culture live the Brazilian People, Museu Afro Brasil, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2003 José Antônio da Silva, Jacques Ardies Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2002 Santa Ingenuidade, Unifieo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2002 POP Brasil: popular art and the popular in art, CCBB, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2002 Modernism: from the Week of 22 to the art section of Sérgio Milliet, CCSP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2002 Wild Mirror: modern art in Brazil in the first half of the 20th century, Nemirovsky Collection, MAM / SP, São Paulo, Brazil
1997 Feliz Aniversilva, Museum of Primitivist Art, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
2001 Shape and Color as Light in the Naïfs, Itaú Cultural Gallery, Brasília, DF, Brazil
2000 Brazil + 500 Rediscovery Exhibition. Popular Art, Biennial Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2000 Naif Art, Jacques Ardies Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1999 Ingenuous Geniuses 70/80, Itaú Cultural Gallery, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1998 The Collector, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1998 The Art of Exhibiting Art, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1998 Brazilian Art in the MAM / SP Collection - Recent Donations, CCBB, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1997 Anthropophagic Appropriations, at Itaú Cultural, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1996 Figure and Landscape in the MAM Collection: tribute to Volpi, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1996 FIEO Expo: donation from Luiz Ernesto Kawall, Centro Universitário Fieo, Osasco, SP, Brazil
1995 Primavera, Rosa Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1995 Unibanco Collection: Unibanco’s 70th anniversary commemorative exhibition, MAM / RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1994 Unibanco Collection: Unibanco’s 70th anniversary commemorative exhibition, Poços de Caldas House of Culture, Poços de Calda, MG, Brazil
1992 The formation of the Modernist look: A selection, Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo (MAC/USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1992 Nature: four centuries of art in Brazil, CCBB, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1992 Retrospective, National Museum of Fine Arts (MNBA), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1992 Retrospective, Paço das Artes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1990 9th Brazil-Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Brazil-Japan Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1990 9th Brazil-Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1990 Brasília Fine Arts Award, MAB / DF, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1990 9th Brazil-Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1990 9th Brazil-Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Atami | Japan 1989 Individual, Mário de Andrade Library, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1990 Figurativism/Abstracionism: the Red in Brazilian painting, Itaú Cultural, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1989 As Mesas, Ranulpho Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1989 Retrospective - José Antônio da Silva: painter from Brazil, MAC / USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1988 MAC 25 years: highlights from the initial collection, MAC / USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1988 The Fascinating World of Naïfs, Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1987 20th Contemporary Art Exhibition, Chapel Art Show, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1986 The landscape at the MAM Collection, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1986 Party of Colors, Rio Design Center, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1984 Tradition and Rupture - Synthesis of Brazilian Art and Culture, Bienal Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1983 80 Years of Brazilian Art, MAC, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
1983 80 Years of Brazilian Art, Fundação Clóvis Salgado. Palace of Arts, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
1982 From Modernism to the Biennial, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1982 80 Years of Brazilian Art, Bauru, SP, Brazil
1982 80 Years of Brazilian Art, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1982 Soccer Universe, MAM, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1981 Transcendent Art, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1980 Pinacoteca of the State of State of São Paulo at Sesc, Galeria Sesc/Carmo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1980 Transcendent Art, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1980 Earth People, Paço das Artes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1980 Images of Dance, Paço das Artes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1978 Constructivists and figuratives from Theon Spanudis Collection, Porto Seguro Art Center, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1976 Santeiros e Imaginário, Paço das Artes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1976 8th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1974 Collective, at Casa Grande Art Gallery, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
1974 Party of Colors, MASP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1973 6th Official Contemporary Art Exhibition, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
1973 5th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1972 Brazilian Theme, Paço das Artes, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1972 Art / Brazil / Today: 50 years later, Collectio Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1970 Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo 1970, Pinacoteca do Estado, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1969 1st Panorama of the Current Brazilian Art, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1963 Contemporary painting and sculpture, Carlos Gomes Museum, Campinas, SP, Brazil
1963 Contemporary painting and sculpture, Centro de Ciências, Letras e Artes, Campinas, SP, Brazil
1962 Selection of Brazilian Art Works from the Ernesto Wolf Collection, MAM, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1959 8th Paulista Salon of Modern Art, Prestes Maia Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1958 Leirner Contemporary Art Award, Folha Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1958 7th Paulista Salon of Modern Art, Prestes Maia Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1957 6th Paulista Salon of Modern Art, Prestes Maia Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1957 12 artists from São Paulo, Folha Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1956 Brazilian Landscape from 1900 to the present day, Palácio dos Estados, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1956 5th Paulista Salon of Modern Art, Prestes Maia Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1956 6th Bahia Salon of Fine Arts, Salvador, BA, Brazil
1955 4th Paulista Salon of Modern Art, Prestes Maia Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1955 5th Bahia Salon of Fine Arts, Salvador, BA, Brazil
1954 Exhibition of the National Congress of Intellectuals, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
1953 Extraordinary Congress of the International Association of Art Critics, MASP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1953 3rd Bahia Exhibition of Fine Arts, Salvador, BA, Brazil
1949 12th Salon of the Fine Artists Union of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1949 Pintura Paulista, Ministry of Education and Health, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1947 Collective, Commercial Club of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
1946 Opening exhibition, House of Culture of São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
International Exhibitions:
2018 - 2019 Exposición Lina Bo Bardi Tupí or not tupí ?, Fundación Juan March, Madrid, Spain
2012 Histoires de Voir, Cartier Foundation, Paris, France
1990 9th Brazil-Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan
1990 9th Brazil-Japan Contemporary Art Exhibition, Sapporo, Japan
1980 20 Brazilian Painters, Chilean Academy of Fine Arts, Santiago, Chile
1980 Ochenta Años de Arte Brasileño, Banco Itaú, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1976 Popular Painters and Sculptors of Brazil, Washington DC, United States
1972 Collective of the Museum of Sacred Art of São Paulo, Municipal Museum of Hispanic American Art Issac Fernandez Blanco, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1957 Modern Art from Brazil, Lima, Peru
1957 Modern Art from Brazil, Santiago, Chile
1957 Modern Art from Brazil, Rosario, Argentina
1957 Modern Art from Brazil, Buenos Aires, Argentina
1955 Carnegie Institute International Exhibition, Pittsburgh, United States
1955 International Painting Exhibition, Ateneo de Valencia, Caracas, Venezuela
1952 Drawing and Engraving from Brazil, Santiago, Chile
Biennials:
2002 6th Naifs of Brazill Biennial, Sesc Piracicaba, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
1989 20th International Biennial of São Paulo, Fundação Bienal, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1987 19th São Paulo International Biennial, Fundação Bienal, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1984 Mexico Biennial, Mexico City, Mexico
1984 Biennial of Japan, Tokyo, Japan
1967 9th São Paulo International Biennial, Fundação Bienal, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1966 1st National Biennial of Fine Arts, Salvador, BA, Brazil
1966 33rd Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
1965 8th International Biennial of São Paulo, Fundação Bienal, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1963 7th São Paulo International Biennial, Fundação Bienal, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1961 6th International Biennial of São Paulo, Ciccilo Matarazzo Sobrinho Pavilion, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1955 3rd São Paulo International Biennial, Pavilhão das Nações, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1954 2nd Hispanic-American Biennial, Havana, Cuba
1953 2nd São Paulo International Biennial, at the Pavilhão dos Estados, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1952 26th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
1951 1st São Paulo International Biennial, Trianon Pavilion, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
Public Collections:
Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC), São Paulo, SP
Museum of Art of São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP), São Paulo, SP
São Paulo Museum of Modern Art (MAM), São Paulo, SP
Pinacoteca of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP
Selected Publications:
2021 Silva: um gênio na coleção Orandi Momesso, publisher Via Impressa, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2018 O círculo de Theon Spanudis, publisher Cultura Arte e Comunicação, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2017 Jose Antônio da Silva, Galeria Almeida e Dale, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2018 Brazilian popular art: contemporary views, Editora WMF Martins Fontes, São Paulo, SP
2012 Histoires de Voir, Cartier Foundation, Paris, France
2010 Pavilion of Brazilian Cultures: Puras Misturas, São Paulo, SP
2009 I was born Wrong and I'm Right, Catalog, Galeria Estação, São Paulo, SP
2007 Cheers to the Living Culture of the Brazilian People, AfroBrasil Museum, São Paulo, SP
2005 Small Dictionary of the Art of the Brazilian People - 20th century, Lélia Coelho Frota, São Paulo, SP
2000 Rediscovery Exhibition - Brazil 500 years | Arte Popular, Takano Editora, São Paulo, SP
1998 Silva - Painting, not the novel, Olivio Tavares, Metrón, São Paulo, SP
1998 Naive Art in Brazil, Jacques Ardies, Empresa das Artes, São Paulo, SP
1992 Modern Brazilian art: MAC / USP collection, Poços de Caldas House of Culture, Poços de Caldas, MG
1982 80 years of Brazilian art, Museum of Art of Bahia (MAB), Bahia, BA
1978 Mythopoetics of 9 Brazilian artists: life, truth and work, Lélia Coelho Frota, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
1975 Party of colors, MASP, São Paulo, SP