Isabel de Jesus

Isabel was born in 1938 in Cabo Verde, MG - Brazil.

Isabel thought of following her religious vocation, but she decided to try and become a nurse and moved to São Paulo to follow this dream. She came to realize her gift for painting whilst working at the house of the  artist Iracema, in 1964 and, two years later she carried out her first individual exhibition at Galeria Vernon in Rio de Janeiro.

In 1972, she travelled to France together with Iracema, who presented her to the Parisian artistic world, holding solo exhibitions at Galerie Séraphine. At that time she received great praise from the world expert in Naïve art, Anatole Jakowsky. 

Having been awarded prizes on many occasions, Isabel de Jesus carried out individual exhibitions at Galeria Jean-Jacques (1985), Rio de Janeiro, and at Galeria Jacques Ardies, São Paulo (1980, 1983, 1989, 1993, 2001, 2014) and participated in a significant number of collective shows in Brazil and abroad.

Isabel de Jesus's art is unique. She commands like few people the technique of gouache on paper. At first, she dampens the paper and throws the colours to obtain a coloured background; then, with a thin paintbrush and with a dark colour she draws her fantastic world, letting herself be guided by her imagination, free from any imposition or formal rules. The result is an intimate, indrawn art, which is highly spontaneous and inventive. Her work is quoted in various art books, amongst which is one by the reputable art critic Jacob Klintowitz: 

Masters of Brazilian drawing (1983) which includes Isabel de Jesus amidst 27 reputable Brazilian Modernists such as Aldemir Martins, Cícero Dias, Volpi, Di Cavalcanti, amongst others.