Bio: Ana Paula Fonseca lives in Northern California and has been working in the visual arts since early-1990's. She grew up in Brazil in a creative environment where she was introduced to painting, sculpture, and graphic art at an early age. Influenced by Picasso, Matisse, Klimt and Dali, Fonseca's art, uncovers mystic dreams always in search of a visual language for the soul.


Artist Statement

My relationship with art started at an early age. It was the positive influence of my father, fine artist as well, that made me discover colors and lines. Although we did not live together, we always had a great artistic connection.

In 1993, as a high school student in Brazil, I had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad exchange between Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. The program was primarily designed to facilitate interaction between art students of Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian cultures. When I returned to Brazil from my studies abroad, I was eager to learn more. Therefore, I seized an opportunity to move to Japan in 1996 in another exchange program. In Japan, I studied the Japanese language, contemporary and historical art, customs and traditions. I found the experience so exhilarating that I stayed in Japan for two years, enhancing my knowledge of Japanese art history and contemporary art practice

In 1999, I moved to Los Angeles, California where I pursued a degree in Fine Arts. As a fine art major in college, I took several courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, design, digital media and art history. However, it was while volunteering in an art program at an elementary school a few years ago that I discovered the true influence of artistic activities over one’s personal growth, development and self-expression. In leading my students to access their creativity and expression, I also guided them to appreciate, understand and value their different cultures and traditions. Throughout this integrative process, I realized that the most stimulating of careers is the one involving a strong connection between creative expression and self-awareness. I thus made it my mission to embrace my career path in art as a vehicle for positive human transformation.