Sheila Gomes
Sheila Gomes is a painter, draftswoman, installation and collage artist who has exhibited around the world in Brazil, the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, and Switzerland. Her most recent exhibitions include solo features at Centro Cultural Taubaté and Água Benta Lupulada Gallery in São Paulo as well as group shows at Richmond Gallery in British Columbia, Spazio Volta in Locarno,Switzerland, RuptureXIBIT Gallery in London, and Vayo Collage Gallery in New York. Sheila has been published by ArtLibris, ARCOLisboa, and ARCOMadrid artbooks.
The paintings, drawings, and installations reflect on the abstracted depiction of inner anatomy, such as blood vessels and organs. Some of these works appear similar to microscopic depictions of blood drops or reflect other themes such as shells and jellyfish-like forms. Dramatic and colorful, upon first inspection the viewer may not identify the imagery as anatomical, but rather as complete abstractions. Upon further examination we will find colors and forms associated with the inner workings of the body. Although Sheila’s intention may be non-objective, the end result clearly indicates reference to forms from real life.
An imaginative and dynamic artist, Sheila explores the nature of form and how such a topic relates to our understanding of biology. She also delves into how recreating these life structures can be presented in an abstract manner. The paintings, drawings, and installations often invoke harsh contrast and heavily defined linearity which develop an understanding and confusion between identification and mysterious connotations.
Shells No. 544 (pictured above) represents some of Sheila’s most dynamic works. These organic forms, similar to aliens, jellyfish, or netches from fantasy-lore such as Morrowind, represent unfamiliar biology, whether fossilized or alive, pressed upon the viewer. The scratchy linearity and loose expression represents substance and nuance. These series of ‘shell’ drawings date back to 2021 but perhaps need to be revisited in order to develop the concept more. These series of works on paper remain amongst Sheila’s most unique and vibrant works which invoke mystery and unfamiliarity.
Sheila Gomes can be described as an artist which provokes the viewer's senses and pushes their comfort zone to embrace or question subject matter which may not necessarily be comforting. Through the depiction of anatomical and organic forms, Sheila redefines the purpose of depicting biological substances, and even nature, in fine art. With a knack for color and improvisation, Sheila Gomes strikes forth with her own vision of organic representation and interpretation so we may question the purpose of abstraction in contemporary art.
