Maria Auxiliadora da Silva

Maria Auxiliadora da Silva (1935–1974) was a self-taught Brazilian painter. Her work was nationally and internationally acclaimed. Characterized by bold colors, thick textures, and mixed media, her paintings center largely on the following themes and genres: Everyday community life and popular manifestations in São Paulo, particularly in the neighborhoods of Brasilândia and Casa Verde; Afro-Brazilian religions, specifically Candomblé, Trinidad Orisha, and Umbanda; self-portraits in which she represents herself as an artist, a bride, and a woman living with cancer; intimacy and affection between women; and urban and rural life.