Artist Bio: Arlesienne Monica DaSilva

Arlesienne Monica DaSilva (aka Big Moni Luv) was born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Brazilian immigrant parents and was raised in the Chicago suburb of Lombard.  She answered the call of wanderlust when she graduated high school and has since lived in Denver and San Francisco and travelled to many U.S. cities before finally finding her true and current home in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Her art frequently explores the themes of celebration and soulful expression she witnesses daily in her beloved city of New Orleans, as well as the strength and energy of her Brazilian heritage, and her thirst to travel the world.

 DaSilva has no formal art training, but has a voracious appetite for learning.  She has studied and worked in various media alongside anyone willing to let her apprentice.  She was the winner of the New Orleans Times-Picayune quarterly design contest and also of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club’s coconut painting contest.

 Her art includes works in Raku-fired hand-formed clay, drawing, painting, metalwork, stained paper collage and found object collage.  DaSilva is currently working primarily with precious metal clay, focusing on fine silver.

 She is also accomplished at gathering and showing the work of fellow artists.  Her studio is in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood, where she features her own work alongside other professional and some novice artists.  Bringing people together in celebration of art and local culture is one of Big Moni Luv’s fortes.