Heloisa Maia (b. 1960, João Pessoa, Brazil) is a Brazilian artist who lives and works between João Pessoa and Miami.
She studied Communication Studies at the Federal University of Paraíba and Public Relations and Advertising at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Maia further developed her artistic practice through studies in painting, drawing, and ceramics at institutions including the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto, the San Francisco Art Institute, the University of New Mexico, the Tambiá Visual Arts Center in João Pessoa, the Atelier Livre da Prefeitura de Porto Alegre, the Art Students League of New York, and Parsons School of Design. She has also participated in artist residencies at Freie Kunstschule Berlin and in Saint-Véran, Provence.
Maia’s work has been exhibited internationally, including presentations at SESC Paraíba and Centro Cultural São Francisco in João Pessoa, the Consulate General of Brazil in Miami, Canteiro in São Paulo, and other venues in Brazil, the United States, and Europe.
Working primarily with drawing and painting on canvas, linen, paper, and clay, Maia develops a figurative language centered on the female figure and its relationship to memory, landscape, and lived experience. Her compositions often emerge from memory rather than direct observation, creating environments that function as emotional territories shaped by travel, displacement, and cultural encounter. Through expressive lines and vibrant color, her work navigates the intersections between personal narrative and broader cultural histories.
CV
Heloisa Maia
João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. 1960.
Lives and works in Miami where she has her studio.
EDUCATION
Finishes Communication Studies at Federal University of Paraiba (1980) and the Baccalaureate in Public Relations and Advertising (1982) at Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Porto Alegre. Between 1982 and 1986, lives in California and studies Painting with Helen Barber at The Palo Alto Pacific Art League, Drawing and Illustration with Justine Parish at San Francisco Art Academy, and Ceramics with Carl Paak at the University of New Mexico. Back in Brazil, she takes painting lessons with Marlene Almeida e Flávio Tavares (1994) at Tambiá Visual Arts Center in João Pessoa, Paraíba. Moves to Porto Alegre (1995) and participates in painting workshops with Michael Chapman at The City Hall Art Studio. Back in the US in 1998 and 1999, this time in New York, she takes etching and engraving classes with Mohammad Khalil at Parsons School of Design and Painting and Drawing with Phillip Sherrod and Anthony Palumbo at the Art Students League of New York.
ART RESIDENCIES PROGRAMS
2016
• Residence Saint Veran, Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence, France.
2000
• Freie Kunstschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024
• “Pinturas”, Sesc Paraíba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2023
• “Desenhos e Pinturas”, Consulate General of Brazil in Miami, Florida, USA.
• “Deserto(De)Sertão Sertão…Ancestral”, São Francisco Cultural Center, João Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil
2018
• “On the Road”, Energisa Cultural Center, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2009
• “Paintings” Format, New York, US.
2001
• “Vivências” Bolsa de Arte de Porto Alegre Gallery, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
• “Vivências” Centro Social et Culturel Franco-Brazilien, Paris, France.
• “Vivências” Gamela Gallery, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025
• “The Family of the Artist” Exhibition, an hotel Intervention at Tower Hotel, Miami
• “Atlas”, Canteiro, São Paulo , Brazil.
• “The Things we Carried” Emporium B Gallery, Miami, USA
2023
• “Certos Pontos Incomuns”: artistas mulheres da Paraíba, São Francisco Cultural Center, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2016
• La Galerie, Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence, France.
2010
• East Hampton Guild Hall, East Hampton, New York, USA.
2009
• Crazy Monkey Gallery, Amagansett, New York, USA.
2008
• Crazy Monkey Gallery, Amagansett, New York, USA.
2006
• Gamela Gallery, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
• Bolsa de Arte, Porto Alegre Gallery, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
• Postal Art, Sesc João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2005
• O Desenho da Pintura, Saelpa Cultural Center na X Fenart, II Drawing Biennial João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2004
• Gamela Gallery, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2003
• Goiás Federal University Art Center, Goiás, Brazil.
• Gamela Gallery, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
• Bolsa de Arte de Porto Alegre Gallery, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
• São Francisco Cultural Center, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2002
• Federal University of Sergipe Art and Culture Center, Aracajú, Brazil.
• São Francisco Cultural Center, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
• I Drawing Biennial, Paraíba Cultural Foundation, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2001
• Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Education and Art Center, Brazil.
• Tambiá Visual Arts Center, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
2000
• Freie Kunstschule Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
COMMISSIONS / SPECIAL PROJECTS
2020/22
• Project “Artist Open”, studio visits, promoted by Fountainhead Residency, Miami.
2019
• Casa Cor Miami Design Exhibition, Paintings. Miami, Florida, US
• Project “Artists Open”, studio visit organized by Fountainhead Residency, Miami, Florida, US.
2018
• “Art Talk” series project by The55Project, interview with Dainy Tapia, in Miami, Florida, US.
• Paintings Exhibition at Nisi B. Home, Miami.
2016
• Paintings Exhibition at Ornate Miami.
2007/9
• Project “Art at Florense”, painting exhibitions at Florense Showrooms in Maceio, Recife, Fortaleza, Rio de Janeiro, and NY .
2002
• Jurerê Beach Village Hotel Project, special commission of paintings for the hotel in Jurerê, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
2000
• Paintings and murals for the design exhibition “Estar.com” in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
2000/01
• Paintings at the Design Exhibition “Casa Cor Sul” in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.