Statement: One attraction of Vera Costa's work is its organic theme and its concept of opposites - internal/external, body/spirit, human/universal energies. These organic forms are positioned outside of a body, seeming to float in space, or they are presented as if seen through a microscope lens. The circle/oval forms represent beginning and end, finite and eternal. The red color symbolizes life force, the energy coursing through the body, physicality. She always is inspired by the human body, especially the inside view of that and the transient cycle of life. In her most recent works she uses styrofoam to shape organic forms that she glues on canvas or board to create hybrid paintings, often rendered in a red and/or white palette. Biography: Education 2001 Master’s degree in Visual Arts focused in Art Education, FEEVALE University Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil. 1995 Bachelor’s degree in Art Education, FEEVALE University Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, 1986 Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Catholic University of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Selected Exhibitions 2008 JMA Gallery - Mozart Award - Ago, Vienna, Austria Rhonda Schaller Studio - Love Scenes - Jul, NY, NY San Mateo City Hall Gallery - Solo Show - May, San Mateo, CA Rozzanoff Gallery - Three Dimensional - Mar, SF, CA Mission Cultural Center - WOW Women on War - Feb, SF, CA San Mateo City Hall Gallery - Red - Jan, San Mateo, CA 2007 Art in USA Embassies Program, 2007/08/09, Swaziland, Africa. A-forest Gallery - Impressions, Nov, New York, NY Mina Dresden Gallery - Tales in Red and Pink, Oct, San Francisco, CA SF Open Studios, October, San Francisco, CA ArtworkSF - Transformations - August, San Francisco, CA Mission Cultural Center - Corazon en Fiesta, July, San Francisco, CA SF International Arts Festival May, SF, CA Artist X-Change Gallery, Jan, San Francisco, CA 2006 Draw_Drawing_2, London Biennale 2006, London, UK SF Open Open Studios, San Francisco, CA Artist-Xchange Gallery, San Francisco, CA Encuentros/Encounters, Mission Cultural Center, SF, CA Texas National 2006, SFA State University, Nacogdoches, TX Griffin Davis, San Francisco, CA Tactics and Strategies -Just Women(Solo Mujeres)- Mission Cultural Center, SF, CA 2005 Artist-Xchange Gallery, San Francisco, CA The Latest Rage (El Ultimo Grito), Centro Cultural Mission, San Francisco, CA 2004 Artist-Xchange Gallery, San Francisco, CA City Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA Solo Mujeres, Centro Cultural Mission, San Francisco, CA 2001 Enrico Bucci Gallery, Santiago, Chile Origins, FEEVALE University Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil II UNE Biennial, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil 2001 Interference in Open Spaces, Yazigi Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil 1999 Olhares (Several Looks), FEEVALE University Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil 1998 Mulher (Woman), Sobrado Gallery, Sao Leopoldo, RS, Brazil Mulher (Woman), Igrejinha Gallery Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Mulher (Woman), Blumenau Cultural Center, Blumenau, SC, Brazil Interference in Open Spaces, Yazigi Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil 1997 I Contemporary Juried Art Show, Vinhedo Cultural Center, Vinhedo, SP, Brazil I National Brazilian Contemporary Painting Show, Pres. Kennedy Cultural Center, Sao Paulo 1996 IV Victor Meirelles Contemporary Show, Museum of Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil X National Art Show, Novo Hamburgo Cultural Center, NH, RS, Brazil City Hall of Pinheiro Machado, RS, Brazil Interference in Open spaces, Yazigi Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil 1995 Top Students of Arts, North American Cultural Institute, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Sinos Valley Artists, Ginastica Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil 1994 Sculptures, Tres Coroas Cultural Center, Tres Coroas, RS, Brazil VIII National Show, Novo Hamburgo Cultural Center, NH, RS, Brazil 1993 Abordagens (Approach), Yazigi International, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil Abordagens (Approach), Yazigi Internacional, Campo Bom, RS, Brazil VII National Show, Novo Hamburgo Cultural Center, NH, RS, Brazil 1992 Experimentum Group, NH Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil Experimentum Group, SL Cultural Center, Sao Leopoldo, RS, Brazil Experimentum Group, Lage de Pedra Hotel, Gramado, RS, Brazil Experimentum Group, Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil Awards 1999 Honor Medal at “Interference in Open Spaces” Yazigi Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil 1996 Gold Medal at “Interference in Open Spaces” Yazigi Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil Honor X National Art Show, Novo Hamburgo Culturral Center, NH, RS, Brazil 1993 Gold Medal at competition “ Carnival city of Novo Hamburgo trophy creation”, RS, Brazil 1992 Gold Medal at competition “Carnival city of Novo Hamburgo trophy creation”, RS, Brazil 1991 Honor Medal at competition “Businessman distinction trophy creation” Others 2005 Publication at BrasilBest, Brazilian Culture Magazine, San Francisco, CA 2004 Publication at BrasilBest, Brazilian Culture Magazine, San Francisco, CA 1999 Creation of scenery for theater play, NH Cultural Center, RS, Brazil 1997 Project “A Vila em Estado de Arte” (The Hood in State of Art). One year teaching art for childre living in poverty. Exhibition Curator of “Reason versus Emotion Art Show,” NH Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, 1996 Project “A Vila em Estado de Arte” (The Hood in State of Art). One year teaching art for children living in poverty. Creation of scenery for theater play, NH Cultural Center, RS, Brazil Exhibition Curator of “Reason versus Emotion Art Show,” NH Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, 1995 Exhibition Curator of ”reason, versus, emotion art show,” NH Cultural Center, Novo Hamburgo, RS, 1991 Illustration of the poetry book “Encontro” (Encounter)