BELINHA
SILVA

Belinha Silva is a contemporary Portuguese painter whose vibrant artistic journey reflects both a multicultural upbringing and a deep-rooted passion for creative exploration. Born in Lisbon, Belinha left Portugal as a young child and spent her childhood in Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Greece. This itinerant lifestyle gave her a nuanced, multicultural perspective that continues to shape her artistic voice today.

Although she initially studied finance, art has always been her most authentic form of expression, as evidenced by the awards she received in art competitions from an early age.

A pivotal transformation occurred in 2005 during her first art workshop in Brussels, marking the true beginning of her profound relationship with art. That experience, which she refers to as “The Revelation,” redefined her relationship with art — not as a hobby or pastime, but as a vital, emotional necessity. From then on, she embraced a self-taught, intuitive practice rooted in experimentation, curiosity, and personal resonance. Her creative process, free from formal schooling, allowed her to explore diverse mediums and techniques freely, ultimately leading to a unique visual language that straddles the boundaries between surrealism, abstraction, and pop art.

Now based in Albufeira, in Portugal’s Algarve region, Belinha continues to explore a wide range of materials including acrylics, oils, silk and porcelain painting, collage, sculpture, and jewellery-making. Her work is perhaps most distinguished by her original invention: Porcelain Fusion on Canvas — a signature technique that embodies her commitment to merging texture, fragility, and expressive power into one compelling narrative. Belinha’s multicultural background and intuitive process imbue her work with emotional depth, offering viewers not just an image, but an invitation to explore complex inner landscapes.

Art is, for me, a profound necessity—an emotional compass that helps me make sense of the world and of myself. Every piece I create is born from an internal spark: a memory, a moment, or an impression that insists on being translated into colour, texture, and form. My process is not governed by logic or planning but by feeling and spontaneity. I allow intuition to guide me, knowing that the most authentic expressions arise from what cannot be predicted or controlled. Through this journey, I hope to create work that is not just seen but experienced—emotionally, viscerally, and personally.

I approach each canvas as a space for dialogue between the viewer and myself, but also between the conscious and the subconscious. The themes I explore—resilience, love, memory, the human condition—are often layered and nuanced, reflecting the complexity of life itself. I build compositions like visual puzzles: what appears abstract often hides symbolic narratives, fantastical characters, or subtle emotional cues. The use of multiple materials and textures is essential to my storytelling, as it reflects the multilayered nature of identity and perception. My signature technique, Porcelain Fusion on Canvas, brings this philosophy to life by combining the delicacy of hand-painted porcelain with the tactile presence of canvas.

What motivates me is the desire to connect—to create works that resonate across cultures, languages, and experiences. I believe that art can transcend the superficial and become a space for shared introspection and wonder. My practice is grounded in curiosity and guided by a refusal to repeat myself. Each new creation is an experiment, a risk, and a celebration of the unexpected. In the end, I create to express, to explore, and to invite others into a universe where fragility meets strength, and imagination has no limits.

Education:

• Self-taught artist
• Participated in various art workshops in Brussels (2005–2007): sculpture, porcelain painting, drawing, painting, life drawing

Exhibitions:

• Luxembourg
• Brussels
• Rome
• Paris
• London
• Venice
• New York
• Zurich
• Barcelona
• Dubai
• Madrid
• Lecce
• Budapest
• Lyon
• Miami
• New Mexico
• Lisbon

Awards:

• 14 international art prizes (2022–2025)
• Gold Medal of the SAAF in 2024 (Association of Francophone Authors & Artists)

Honours:

• Ambassador of Portuguese Art (2024)
• International Artist of the Year (2025)