Full Bio
Fernanda Carvalho is a Brazilian artist currently based in New York City. Her work is interdisciplinary, and she uses various mediums such as photography, filmmaking, creative writing, artist's books, and installations. Through art, she is dedicated to instigating questions, channeling the idea of noticing and paying attention to the world around us, and bringing to light issues that are overlooked. As a queer Brown woman, Carvalho addresses topics including social, political, and cultural matters, with emphasis on Latinx studies, race, mental health, surrealism, and human behavior analysis. Additionally, she is invested in making interactive artwork that invites the viewer to partake in making meaning as she calls us to see the world through another perspective; to be thinkers, and to be makers. In her words, “Being an artist goes beyond making art; it encompasses the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and skills that engage people and shape society.” Keeping this idea in mind, she looks forward to making a positive lasting impact wherever she goes.
Her work as a filmmaker and photographer has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. Her films have been featured at film festivals in Italy, Sweden, and Panama, and have premiered at the prestigious Gene Siskel Film Center. Her photographic work has been showcased in exhibitions at various galleries in Chicago, including the LeRoy Neiman Center, Siragusa Gallery, and SITE Gallery, where she received the 2021 New Outstanding Artist Award. Her photographs have also been published in the 13th Edition of the Photo Catalog of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. and she has been a panelist in multiple artist talks and workshops. Carvalho’s passion for community and activism is evident in her founding and direction of the 1st Art Contest at Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) during the pandemic, which recognized emerging artists with monetary prizes. She has also contributed artistically to the public art scene through Bronx River Art Center, where she designed and built benches commissioned by McInnis Cement company to reflect the unique qualities of The Bronx.
Carvalho has a Bachelor's in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2023), and an Associate’s in Photography from BMCC (2020). During her academic years, she received Honors in Documentary and Narrative Photo, Film Production, Art History II, and Intercultural Communications. In 2021, she co-presented and worked as a 3D Artist for the “Holding Restorative Space for Ourselves Workshop” at the City University of New York and also presented her research on “Synesthesia and Film: An Experience Beyond the Screen” at the Beacon Conference.