Aster da Fonseca

As a new immigrant to the United States from his native Brazil, Aster da Fonseca discovered an instant affinity for art. He settled in Washington DC for over 20 years, learning artistic techniques he observed in artwork on exhibit in museums and exhibiting his artwork in various galleries and venues. A self-taught artist, da Fonseca has worked in many different artistic styles to bring the memories of his past in Brazil into the present immediacy of his paintings. He is in a constant search for artistic growth and the ability to articulate his experiences by telling stories through his artwork.

Da Fonseca moved to Oakland Park FL in 2016. His current collection of collages are inspired by time in his home garden watching the painted buntings, parrots, hummingbirds, and other fauna that visit his favorite garden trees, the Plumerias. Inspired by the simplicity of his surroundings, he reached for the leftover painter's tape around his studio. Da Fonseca began creating landscapes filled with a sense of peaceful surroundings and joyful birds. He uses acrylic paint on painter’s tape, designing various patterns and schemes. He cuts out each shape by hand with scissors and pastes the shapes onto vellum paper, developing woodland scenes with flying birds. His collages pay homage to spring, fall, and winter up north, treasured memories from his time in DC, reflecting on the neutral tones and falling leaves, frosty branches surrounded by tweeting birds. After he finishes each collage, he uses a matte polymer varnish w/UVLS for protection. 

View Aster's artwork in the 2023 exhibit Chuffed Up!