Bela Silva was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and lives and works between Brussels, Lisbon, and Paris. Her international career has taken her to study at the Schools of Fine Arts in Porto and Lisbon, Ar.Co., Lisbon, Norwich Fine Arts in the United Kingdom, and the Art Institute of Chicago in the United States. Her experience in different countries has profoundly influenced her work, leading her to develop an artistic approach that oscillates between tradition and experimentation.
Her work has been widely exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums, including Ann Nathan Gallery and Rhona Hoffman Gallery in Chicago, the National Tile Museum, the Anastácio Gonçalves Museum, the National Palace of Ajuda, the Ricardo Espírito Santo Foundation, the Museum of the Orient, the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon, and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Her international exhibition history also includes shows in China, Japan, Brazil, Spain, South Korea, and France. In 2022, she presented na exhibition at Villa Tamaris in France; in 2023, she exhibited in Seoul, South Korea, as well as at Palácio Cadaval in Portugal; and in 2024, she presented Caminho Tropical at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Niterói, Brazil.
With a deep mastery of ceramics and azulejo tilework, Bela Silva has created several public art pieces integrated into architectural spaces. Among her most notable works are the tile panels at Alvalade metro station in Lisbon, the Cultural Center of Sakai in Japan, and commissioned projects for João de Deus School in the Azores. She has also developed exclusive pieces for private collectors in Europe and the United States, in addition to collaborating with renowned interior designers.
Her artistic practice has also expanded into design, leading to collaborations with prestigious international brands such as Hermès, Tiffany & Co., Serax, Viúva Lamego, Bordalo Pinheiro, Vista Alegre, and Monoprix. In 2021, she launched a hand-painted porcelain collection in partnership with Ginori 1735, presented in Paris.
Bela Silva has participated in artist residencies in the United States and Portugal, including the Kohler Arts/Industry Residency in Wisconsin, the Bordalo Pinheiro Factory in Caldas da Rainha, and the Viúva Lamego Factory in Sintra. She has also conducted ceramic workshops in Japan and Morocco, deepening her connection with traditional ceramic techniques across different cultures.
Travel plays a fundamental role in her creative process, allowing her to incorporate local history, culture, and nature into her artistic vision. Her work emphasizes the dialogue between communities and identities, reinterpreting traditional elements through a contemporary lens that reflects the dynamism and diversity of her artistic journey.