TV.BR
SELFIEPORTRAIT
Visual Artist
Curator
PhD Genetics and Evolution
Environmentalist
Mother
Spiritual Medium
LUZCASTAÑEDA
Luzia’s work and research has taken her from the prestigious campuses of the State University of Campinas and Pontificial Catholic University of São Paulo where she spearheaded innovative work in the field of history of genetics in Brasil to her present day research for her upcoming body of work, Urban Orixás (a collection of paintings and mixed media) in New York City.
In the first decade of 2000, after teaching for 6 years, Luzia expanded her professional horizons by leaving academia to volunteer with Ilhabela.org, an environmental NGO partner. There she merged her expertise in biology with the social needs of a tropical island situated in Ilhabela State Park. Today the organization has turned into a nursery of rainforest trees. And, in working with the Global Network for Peace Education (http://www.redepaz.org) from 2002 to 2008 organizing and participating in local and continental meetings, and coordinating the project, “Artists for Peace”; Luzia met several religious and social leaders, and acquired different tools for peaceful coexistence and conflict management.
In 2005 Luzia establishes herself as a social entrepreneur with Open Sky Art & Consciousness a collective space she founded and coordinated (2006-2010) in the city of Campinas, Brazil. This creative space became a hub for professional artistes, integrative therapies and education for peace. It worked as an incubator for innovative initiatives such as collective selling of organic products, fair exchange, labs and workshops, and point of meeting for different spiritual traditions. In addition, she also created Art Space in the city of Campinas, a pop-up gallery designed and curated by Luzia to promote both new talent and established visual artists. This project helped to build a new concept of culture and connection that aims to bring more art to the Campinas public.
It is from this confluence of scientific research, peace advocacy, art, and social entrepreneurship that in 2010 Luzia, began her research in the biological approach to consecrate plants and spirituality that resulted in Herbs And Orixás series.
Continuing on that theme her present day research has brought her to New York City for her upcoming body of work, Urban Orixás (a collection of paintings, photographs, and mixed media) in search of the natural forces of nature (The Orixas) and how they are expressed in an urban environment. This erudite artiste has traversed much ground and created tools and inroads for self-knowledge.
LIFEEXPERIENCE
1992 PhD Genetics and Evolution - State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) - Brazil
1986 Graduate Biological Science - State University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
art education
2015
Art Since 1970: Passages through time and Space, Prof Annie Dell’Aria (10,5 hours), The Art Student League of New York.
Collage and the City, Prof Erik Hibit (30 hours), The Cooper Union, New York, US
2014
History of Modern Art (80 hours) Prof Luciano Migliaccio, Campinas, Brazil.
The City Transformed: Part I (12 hours) Prof Barry Lews, The Cooper Union, New York, US
Collage - Prof Erik Hibit (30 hours), The Cooper Union, New York, US
2013
Workshop São Luiz do Paraetinga to Paraty - 5 days - Final Portfolio - Prof. Isabela Senatore
Modern art I (80 hours)Prof. Vera Ferro - Campinas, Brazil
Modern art II (80 hours) Prof. Vera Ferro - Campinas, Brazil
Curator of Contemporary Art in São Paulo (12 hours) Prof. Martin Grossman, Casa do Saber, São Paulo, Brazil
Art Curator (6 hours) Prof. Valéria Piccolo, Casa do Saber, São Paulo, Brazil
2012
Contemporary Art I (80 hours)Prof. Vera Ferro
Contemporary Art II (80 hours) Prof. Vera Ferro
Visions - basic photography - total 25 hours - Prof. Isabela Senatore - Campinas, SP, Brazil
Divine and Visions - portfolio review - total 25 hours Prof. Isabela Senatore
Collage (18 hours) Prof. Nino Cais, Tomie Otake Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.
Watercolor Workshop, Prof. Kristina Jurick, during the IV International Meeting of Watercolor Painters in Paraty, Brazil
2011
Contemporary Art III(80 hours) Prof. Vera Ferro - Campinas, Brazil
Guide tour to Art Museums in Paris Prof. Vera Ferro- Campinas, Brazil
Contemporary Art IV(80 hours) Prof. Vera Ferro - Campinas, Brazil
2010
Collage - (80 hours) Prof. Vera Ferro -Campinas, Brazil
Contemporary Art V (80 hours) Prof. Vera Ferro - Campinas, Brazil
2007
Watercolor- workshops (30 hours) Prof. Vera Ferro - Campinas, Brazil
2007 - Open-air watercolor in Tiradentes, Brazil
2006-2013 -Individual guidance in art projects(240 hours) Prof. Vera Ferro
2004
Quantum Process In Creativity (20 hours) Prof. Lais Wollner, Espaço Wollner - eW - São Paulo, Brazil
awards
2012 - Waldemar Belisário - Installation Category, Ilhabela, Brazil
2008 -Selected artist to Brahma Kumaris Calendar, Brahma Kumaris International Organization
2008 - Selected artistto the homage Professor Pierre Weil, International Congress of Transdisciplinarity, Complexity and Ecoformation, Brasília, Brazil
individual exhibitions
2017
Ervas e seus Orixas, FNAC, Campinas Brazil
2016
Women in Art, Ward-Nesse Galery, NYC, US
2015
“OWA da Luz”, Espaço Arte- Ateliê Revestimento, Campinas, Brazil
2014
“Ervas e seus Orixás” Herbs and Orixás, Espaço das Artes of the Scholl of medical Sciences of Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil
2013
“Valor da Natureza” The Values of Nature, Café e Arte, Campinas, Brazil
“Ervas e seus Orixás” Herbs and Orixás, Mataganza Cultural Center, Templo Guaracy do Brazil, Cotia, Brazil
2008
“Espelhos da Alma” The Soul’s Mirror Ecomercado Avis Rara, Campinas, Brazil
2007
A arte como manifestação do poder do amor” The Art and the Power of Love, Livraria e Espaço Arjuna, São Paulo, Brasil
“Anjos, Santos e Afins” Angels and Saints, Café e Arte, Campinas, Brazil
2006
Exhibition of Paintings at Hotel-Spa Sete Voltas,”Spa Hotel Sete Voltas, Itatiba, Brazil
“Um outro jeito de se ver: Reestruturar, Resignificar, Rever” Another way to see ourselves: restructuring, reframing, reviewing,
Willis Harman House, São Paulo, Brazil
collective exhibitions
2016 - Invitation to have an exhibition “Biologia das Ervas Sagradas” at the United Nations
2015
PointB presentation during Armory Week with works by Patrick Meagher (New York), Luzia Castañeda (São Paulo), and Ōyama Enrico Isamu (Tokyo), NYC, US -
LIC ARTS Queens, NYC, US, May 13 - June 13. Serie Value of Nature
2013
Divine and Visions - Photography, Arte Space - Ateliê Revestimento, Campinas, Brazil
The Eye that Sees - Photography, September/October, 2013, Santos, SP, Brazil
2012
IV International Meeting of Watercolor Painters, Paraty, Brazil
XXXV Exhibition Visual Art Hall Waldemar Belizário, Ilhabela, Brazil
2011
Watercolor Contemporary, Indaiatuba, Brazil
2007
Tiradentes - Watercolor Outdoor, Art Space Sylvia Ferro, Campinas, Brazil
Crisolart Galleries, Barcelona, Spain
2006
Tribute to the Masters of French Painting, Cultural Space TOTE, Campinas, Brazil
Metamorphosis, Art Space Sylvia Ferro, Campinas, Brazil
special participation
2011 - Invited artist to participate at the celebration of 5th anniversary of UMAPAZ, São Paulo, Brazil
2008 - Artexpo New York - Brazilian Group, NY, US