Monica Silva was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She lives in Europe since 1986.

She settled for a while in London and then in Italy where she lives nowadays between Bologna and Milan.

For 8 years she has worked with major film studios as first assistant director for international advertising directors such as Robert Richardson, Federico Brugia, Daniele Lucchetti, Zack Snyder, Renzo Martinelli.

In 2001 she joined professional photography, shooting many works in the music business with labels such as Sony Music, EMI, BMG and Edel portraying the Italian scene artists like Matteo Becucci, Dolcenera, Noemi, Sergio Cammariere, Luca Derisio, Samuele Bersani.

Meanwhile, she works for many editorial assignments, with several italian newspapers: Max, Dove Viaggi Flair, Vanity Fair, Io Donna, Style, Magazine, Sette, Panorama Travel, I Viaggi del Sole, Corriere della Sera.

In 2008 Monica Silva becames Nikon Pro Photographer and shoot projects in collaboration with Nikon Italy and agencies of tourism board.

In 2009 she was assigned by the UNESCO ambassador Edith Tamagnini to carry out the photographic campaign for the book "Perpetual Freedom-San Marino World Heritage Site", published by Edizioni Minerva and sponsored by the Savings Foundation of San Marino.

In 2010, together with Nital, she helds a serie of workshops for Nikon School and in 2011 began working with the two major names in professional photography: Hasselblad, Manfrotto, for lectures and workshops on the psychology of portrait.

Turning into arts

From these multiple professional experiences, Monica Silva feels the need to express herself more creatively and move on from corporate obligations.

Thus began the first steps into the world of art photography, shooting articulated projects such as "Life Above All" in 2008 (interpretation of the collection of poems entitled "The Anthology of Spoon River" by E. Lee Masters) exhibited at the Mazzoleni Art Gallery (Milan), Stefano Forni Art Gallery (Bologna) and Pomposa Art (Codigoro). Follow the the project On My Skin," a serie of nude shots for the event Art Fair 2010 (Bologna) in collaboration with Stefano Forni Gallery and Open Project.

In April of 2011 a new project comes to light: "My Hidden ego", a study project of the psychological aspects of the human soul. Simple set lighting for contemporary photos in order to highlight what is not shown of a person' self. The projections of interactive design is done by the designer Gianluca Macaluso from Deep. The exhibition was open to the public for two months and took place at the Palazzo Pichi Sforza (Sansepolcro AR) with the support of Mercurio Promozioni and Kemon.

November 2011 the picture “Dorfles infinito and a gaze to Ghirri” winner as best photograph of the 54th International Art Exhibition. The picture was selected by jPaolo Baratta, La Biennale President, Art curatoro Bice Curiger and by the artist Shirana Shahbazi.

More recent works:

Manfrotto School of Xcellence, Bassano Photography: Workshop "My Hidden ego" and "Light there be Light!" September

Hasselblad Workshops: "My Hidden ego" Portugal: Lisbon and Porto, October; "My Hidden ego" Monopoli (Bari) November



Most recent publications:

"Dei", published by Skira. Portraits of the artist Gianluigi Colin and his works (Madre Museum Naples)
"Mitografias", published by Skira. Portraits of the artist Gianluigi Colin and his works (IVAM Museum Valencia Spain)

Mayonnaise of strawberries, Moreno Cedroni, Mondadori Publishing

Victor Hasselblad Italy - Cover story on Monica Silva's works … Read More