Denise Carvalho

Denise Carvalho is a visual artist, anthropologist, and art historian affiliated with the School of Visual Arts (SVA) and the Department of Art History. Her work bridges artistic practice with scholarly research, focusing on themes such as dystopian controlled spaces, the intersection of art and language, and the transformative power of color and abstraction.

• Education: BFA from the School of Visual Arts, MA from Hunter College, and MA and PhD from the University of California, Davis.

Carvalho’s artistic philosophy emphasizes the emotional and energetic transmutation of experiences into visual expression. Her recent work, Les Fleurs du Mal, critiques modern societal control over nature, inspired by ecological degradation and Walter Benjamin’s theories. She also explores synesthesia, spiritual theories, and ancient art techniques to redefine the relationship between abstraction and communication.

Her curatorial projects include international exhibitions like AMOR (Rio de Janeiro, 2016) and The Unknown (Meditations Biennial, Poznan), and her scholarly contributions span books and essays on Brazilian contemporary art and interdisciplinary methodologies.

• Scientific Awards: Prêmio Jabutí Prize in Literature (2016), Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellowship, UC Davis Fellowships, and travel grants from the Trust for Mutual Understanding and UC Davis Consortium for Women and Research.