Nadia Da Silva

My work delves into themes of longing and otherness, navigating the intricate terrains of displacement, identity, and belonging. Growing up in a Catholic household as a non-binary immigrant, my practice explores my navigation of life in a feminine body, embodying the tensions and intersections of culture, gender, and faith. Through my art, I explore the body as both a personal and cultural landscape, bridging narratives of home and self. Born in Portugal and raised in Canada, my experience of duality informs my creative process. I mainly use oil paint, oil pastel, and ink on found surfaces, turning personal struggles into large, bright, and dramatic compositions that often teeter on the edge of chaos. This vibrancy reflects a transformation of internal conflict into works that engage with memory, place, and identity. My academic foundation—a major in drawing and painting alongside a minor in Illustration and Gender/Sexuality Studies—enhances the theoretical backbone of my work, connecting research with artistic expression. As someone who grew up within the constraints of traditional femininity, my art examines displacement not only in physical terms but also in the relationship with my own body.