Based in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, painter artist Salette Viana has made the female figure the signature of her work. Through portraits with expressive gazes and vibrant colors, she has built a recognizable universe that today brings her recognition far beyond the Côte d’Azur.
Born in 1950 in Portugal, Salette Viana truly discovered painting in the 1980s. An artistic encounter then disrupted her path: the work of a painter touched her deeply and acted as a catalyst. She began painting «much like one does therapy», she confides. Very quickly, creation became essential in her life.
Before opening her own studio, she took classes with renowned painters and gradually refined her technique. Settled in Monaco at age 25, she led a life as a mother and wife for several years before adding a third dimension: that of painter artist.
Now based in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Salette Viana has built a reputation far beyond the Côte d’Azur. Her work is exhibited regularly in Monaco, France and internationally, notably in Portugal, Italy, Malta, Turkey, Luxembourg, Brazil, the Philippines and the United States
Women as an artistic universe
For several years, Salette Viana has concentrated her work almost exclusively on the female figure. A theme she considers «inexhaustible». Through her canvases, she brings to life imaginary characters where everything is conveyed through the gaze.
«Look carefully into a woman’s eyes, they will show you the state of her heart», affirms the artist. This attention to emotions constitutes the guiding thread of her work. Her women can be melancholic, joyful, mischievous or even seductive. All seem ready to dialogue with the viewer.
For Salette Viana, woman becomes a pictorial language in its own right. Each portrait tells a mood, an attitude, a presence. Her female characters embody both softness and strength, fragility and confidence.
An immediately recognizable style
Salette Viana’s «women» have forged the artist’s visual identity. Oval faces, long slender noses, clear eyes, full lips and flaming hair: her characters possess an immediately identifiable aesthetic.
Her universe oscillates between modernity and retro inspiration. Some figures recall the women of the Roaring Twenties, while others seem deeply contemporary. Primary colors occupy a central place, giving the works a particular intensity.
International recognition
Over the years, the artist has seen her reputation transcend regional borders. Her works are now found in private collections in Boston, New York and Rio de Janeiro.
Salette Viana regularly participates in art fairs in France and abroad. Her career has been marked by numerous distinctions: the Open des Artistes of Monaco in 2011, the International Award Galleria in Venice and the Sanremo Gold Palm in 2022, then the World Cup of Arts in Monte-Carlo, the Côte d’Azur Trophy in Nice and the International David di Michelangelo Prize in 2023.
In 2019, she also created a monumental work of three meters by 3.5 meters for a modern and contemporary art museum in the Philippines. One of her creations was also chosen to illustrate the cover of Monaco’s telephone directory, further strengthening her visibility with the general public.
An artist between proximity and influence
Despite this international recognition, Salette Viana remains deeply attached to the Côte d’Azur. Between prestigious exhibitions and international fairs, she also enjoys more intimate events, such as her exhibitions in Menton, which she describes as «a joy» close to home.
Through her female portraits with intense gazes, Salette Viana pursues a deeply human work, where emotion always remains paramount.
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