Ernani Silva

Ernani Silva was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Growing up on a hill in a settlement originally populated by African runaway slaves, Silva began painting at age fourteen and soon became convinced that painting was his destiny. He has developed a distinctive style that contains abstract Brazilian and African elements, laced with rich and vibrant color. Silva's work reflects Brazilian cultural influence of African, Indian, and European descent. 

Soon after discovering that his destiny was tied to painting, he moved to Bahia. Enjoying the culture that Bahia offered, Ernani worked on improving his technique and in 1989 migrated to the United States. Since then in his own words his work has become "less primitive," yet continues to reflect his homeland of Brazil in its various forms, feelings, and moods.

As Ernani Silva continues his journey as a career artist with over thirty years of experience, his semi-abstract paintings continue to evoke cultural content of his native Brazil with his African and Indian heritage.