CRISTINA MAYA CAETANO

 

ARTIST STATEMENT

 

Cristina Maya Caetano is Portuguese, born in Angola, lived in Mozambique for some years (both old Portuguese colonies in Africa) and currently lives in Portugal between the cities of Aveiro and Pinhel.

Cristina has extensive professional experience, passing from Teaching, Development Agent, Service Director, Regional and Urban Planning Higher Technical.

Cristina is a writer, visual artist, illustrator and poet and until 2010, she used Cristina Maia Caetano as artist name. She published her first book “Conhecer o Teatro em Moçambique” in 2004. Based on her master’s thesis, it was the first book about theater in Mozambique to be published, having also been put on sale in Mozambique. In 2011, based on this her Book, she was invited to publish an article in the magazine Identidades N. 3, in Brazil.

She was a columnist for Jornal Abrantes; Aveiro Diary; Radio FM Aveiro; Pinhel Falcão and Online Root newspapers with the chronicle “Ver e Sentir” (2012- 2005). The artist with training in Theater, also participated in the film “Teias da Vida” in 2017.

She is an award-winning painter and she participates in important exhibitions in the world like: Spain; Germany; France; Italy; USA, Austria; Scotland; Sweden; Hungary; England; Japan; Portugal; Denmark; Switzerland; Morocco; Belgium; Luxembourg; Ukraine; Algeria; India¸Croatia, Argentina, South Korea; Lithuania; Mexico; Cyprus, Mozambique. Her work is published in International specialized Magazines and Art books. Through the Haegeumgang Theme Museum in South Korea, she was appointed for the third consecutive time as a member of the “Portuguese Jury” on an international jury panel: 2024 “Language of Co-existence, Art” – 10th Geoje International Art Festival; 2025 “Blooming Art: Art Value Development Project” – 11th Geoje International Art Festival; 2026 “Culture and Arts – Join Hands Together” – 12th International Art Festival. Appointed President of the ICAF Promotion Committee – South Korea (2025/2026).

She created the project “Union Between Arts,” held in Portugal, based on the 10th edition of the Geoje International Art Festival – Portugal/South Korea Group, in 2024. In 2025, she created the project “Synergia Criativa,” based on her Portuguese Group in the 11th edition of the Geoje International Art Festival – South Korea (53 participants, 8 countries). In 2026, the second edition of ” Synergia Criativa” –  based on her Portuguese& Lusophony Team in the 12th edition of the Geoje International Art Festival – South Korea- grew and now has 66 participants from 23 countries.Synergia Criativa unites artists with international poets, and is applied to institutions, schools and magazines worldwide.

Some Awards and Nominations of Great Distinction:

•In South Korea at the Geoje International Art Festival (Haegeumgang Theme Museum): Special/Achievement Awards, South Korea, 2024/2025/2026); “Artist of the Year Award” (2026). Recognition from important Korean entities for his work: Honorable Mentions “Certificate of Appreciation” from the Korean Association of Private Museums, the Korean Museum Association, and the Gyeongnam Museum Association (2026). • Francisco de Goya International Prize (Spain, 2022) • ATIM’s Top 60 Masters of Contemporary Art Award: (60 best artists of the year), with Distinction for Artistic Merit ATIM: Recognition with special presentation at the studios, ArtTour International TV Show / MNN Studios. (USA, 2018) • In Marocco: 1st Prize at the Taza International Exhibition. 2nd Prize at the Taza Biennial (2018). • In France: “Award of Excellence” Circle Quarterly Magazine (2017) and “Trofeo Art Prize in French Riviera”, Cannes, Artexpò (2016). • “The Best Modern and Contemporary Artists”, Vienna, (Austria, 2016). In Italy : 1st International Leonardo Da Vinci Prize (2016). and “UNESCO Heritage – I International Noto Award”(2015).

Featured International Exhibitions

10th, 11th, 12th Geoje International Art Festival (South Korea,2024. 2025 2026). Busan International Environmental Art Festival (BIEF 2025 and 2026). several exhibitions with EvolucionArts (Mexico, 2025, 2026). “Promemoria – War: A Thing Never to Do”, Colorier l’Avenir (Switzerland, 2026). International Photography and Painting Salon (Lithuania, 2024). Various biennials including: Cyprus Biennial (2026); Florence Biennial (X and XI – 2015, 2017), Milan Art Biennial (2017, Italy), Taza Biennial where she won 2nd Prize (2018, Morocco), Riviera del Brenta Biennial (2017, Italy), International Women in Art Biennial (Portugal). “Painting @ Photography 2024” Virtual Salon, Consell International de les Arts, linked to UNOTA and UNESCO (Croatia, 2024). Spectrum / Red Dot Miami Art Week (USA, 2018). ATIM Top 60 Masters New York, New York (USA, 2018).

It is represented in important museums such as:HAEGEUMGANG THEME MUSEUM, Geoje, South Korea. “MUSEU DA GUARDA”, Guarda, Portugall. ” MAMAG” Modern Art Museum in Castle Hubertendorf , Austria.  “VILLA CAVALLINI SGARBI – Collezione Sgarbi “, Ferrara, Italy.  “EUROPEAN ART MUSEUM”, Frederiksværk ,Denmark.

Cristina loves writing and her favorite subjects are child’s imagination and human emotions. Fairy tales, poetry, children’s stories and novels appear in her work. Painting and Illustration emerges naturally from her writing. Often her oil paintings were born from poems that she created and to which she gave a breath of self-existence.

She has edited in Portugal two volumes (The Search and The Master) of her childhood collection and trademark ” Fadinha Lótus” (Little Lotus Fairy) written and illustrated by her with the use of mixed techniques. With her Fadinha Lotus (Little Fairy Lotus) collection, Cristina makes her presentations in schools and in various institutions with music and puppets, which represent the characters she created. “O Pequeno Pinguim” and “Continhos de Luz” are other children’s books, also illustrated by Cristina using colored pencils, felt-tip pens, oil pastels, acrylic and eco-lines. At the moment, She has other books, such as “Tons do Coração” and “Transformações pelo Mundo Afetivo”.

Since 2009 Cristina participates in poetic events, newspapers and magazines of poetry (Portugal, Spain; India / Abu Dhabi), and poems published in twenty-eight poetry magazine and anthology books. Her poems have been published in several languages (Spanish, French, English, Italian, German) in poetry collection books in Portugal, Italy and Argentina. In Argentina, (2022) one of her poems was awarded, and in Italy (2026, 2023). Also she produced prefaces by international poets and translated poetry into Portuguese.

In 2015, with the death of her father, Cristina became the caregiver for her mother, who had always been in fragile health. From 2018 onwards, her mother gets worse and Cristina reduces her participation in artistic activities to give her more attention. In 2020, her mother became demented and soon became bedridden, and Cristina abandoned art (appearing sporadically, particularly in activities related to poetry) to take care of her alone full-time. In March 2024, with the death of her mother, Cristina goes through a phase of mental and physical recovery and slowly resumes her artistic profession.

The vocation of Cristina is sensitive and lives in her spirit, intending to spread spirituality and sensitize the world for the light and love. The main themes and focus of her work consist of the invisibility of what is beyond human vision, in constant spiritual growth, conscious of the union of everything and everyone. For this, Cristina turns to the figurative with analysis and preferential study of the human being, landscapes, symbologies and to nature with special focus on flowers, plants, animals and birds. Always keeping in mind the meaning of the “objects” in study allied to what she intends to convey. Cristina transforms “what she see”, in what she “feel” with the eyes of her innerself. To these “ingredients” she mixes the abstract with the colors and their respective messages, in a harmonious color complement. In all Cristina’s work, she always give a personal and unique stamp to every painting, which she intends to stand out from the visible reality, to allow the entrance of the dream, of the realization of ideas and the disclosure and construction of a better new world.

For Cristina art is life, light, vibration, harmony and love. Art is EVERYTHING!

She has her paintings in private collections, institutions and museums.

 

EDUCATION 

2024 Workshop “Elaboração de Projetos Artísticos“, CreArt 3.0, Aveiro City Council, Aveiro, Portugal.

2019 Studies “Decoração de Interiores e Jardins” in “Escola de Talentos”, Aveiro, Portugal.

2014 Training in “Artenautas do Brincar”in “Museu do Brincar”, Vagos, Portugal.

2013 Training in “Escrita Criativa” in “DEGEI: Departamento de Economia, Gestão e Engenharia Industrial da Universidade de Aveiro”, Aveiro, Portugal.

2012 Trining in “História da Arte”, Unave – Training in, Portugal.

2012 Workshop “Fabrico de marionetas” in “Museu do Brincar”, Vagos, Portugal.

2012/2011Training in Theater and Film with participation in the play and film“Teias da vida”, CLAII, Aveiro, Portugal.

2011 Training in “Ilustração”, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Aveiro, Portugal.

2009  Training in “Contadores de história do mundo”, CLAII, Aveiro, Portugal.

2003 Master Degree in “Estudos Africanos” in “Faculdade de Letras Universidade do Porto”, Portugal.

2002 Course of “Monitora de Artes Decorativas em Madeira”, Lisbon, Portugal.

2001 Summer Course “Oficina de artes – pintura a óleo”, Pinhel, Portugal.

2001 Course of “Monitora de Artes Decorativas”, Lisbon, Portugal.

1998 Graduate in “Estudos Europeus e Comunitários”, ISCIA, Aveiro, Portugal.

1997 “Estudos Europeus ”, University of Port, Port, Portugal.

1993 Degree in “Planeamento Regional e Urbano” University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.

1991 A semester in a “Curso de Pintura e Desenho,” by the University of Aveiro – Associação do Conservatório Regional de Aveiro Calouste Gulbenkian, Aveiro, Portugal.

1985 She does as a self-proposal external student, the history discipline of the 10th and 11th of the humanistic area, being a student 12. year of the science.

1985 “I Parte do Curso de fotografia”, Guard, Portugal.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

2027/2026 – Coordinator (for the second time) of the “Creative Synergia” project, based at the 12th Geoje International Art Festival in South Korea (Portugal & Lusophony Team), which fosters a dialogue between painting, sculpture, drawing, and poetry. Each artwork is accompanied by a poem written by authors of various nationalities, and the project is implemented at diverse institutions around the world. It also features commentators from various professions. Participating countries: South Korea, India, Portugal, Croatia, England, Poland, Slovenia, Scotland, Italy, Greece, Israel, Spain, Nigeria, Mozambique, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, Argentina, Cuba, Nicaragua, Peru, Marocco, Ukranie and Brazil.

2026/2025 Founder and Coordinator of the project “Creative Synergy”, based on the 11th Geoje International Art Festival in South Korea (Portugal Group), which proposes a dialogue between painting, sculpture, installation and poetry. Each artwork is accompanied by a poem written by authors of different nationalities — Portuguese, Brazilian, Spanish, Mozambican and Nigerian/English — giving the project a multicultural and inclusive dimension. This project also features commentators from different professions and is being implemented in various magazines and institutions in Portugal, Mozambique, Brazil, Poland, Italy, Israel, and Spain. Within the scope of the project, she coordinating, together with the Pinhel Municipal Library, the exhibition “Creative Synergy” at those facilities in the city of Pinhel, Portugal.

2025 Her book “Tons do Coração” and its accompanying merchandising were published and marketed by Nova Odyssey Global Media, London, England.

2025/2024 Founder and Coordinator of the “União entreEArtes” project, carried out in Portugal, starting with the 10th Geoje International Art Festival 2024 – Portugal Group – Portugal/South Korea. Organized the event with the exhibition “Harmonias” at the Torre de Menagem – Museu da Guarda, part of the 8th Guarda Art Symposium, and represented the project at Ribbses (meeting of libraries from northern Portugal) in Covilhã.

2026“Jury for Portugal” – member of the international panel of judges of the 12th Geoje International Art Festival “Culture and Arts: Join Hands Together” exhibition, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, South Korea.

2025 “Jury for Portugal” – member of the international panel of judges of the 11th Geoje International Art Festival “Blooming Art- Art Value Development Projet” exhibition, Haegeumgang Theme Museum, South Korea.

2024 “Jury for Portugal” – member of the international panel of judges for the exhibition “Language of Co-existence, Art”  – 10th Geoje International Art Festival  at the Haegeumgang Theme Museum in South Korea. In this context, she publicized in the media, organized and coordinated the poster and video of its 22 international artists “Presentation of the Group of Portugal”. The Portugal Group won 13 awards: 1 “Achievement Award”, 1 “Excellence Award” and 11 “Encouragement Award”.

https://www.facebook.com/hggmuseum/videos/2206463483019324

2024-2023 Coordinated “Arts in private classrooms”, Aveiro, Portugal.

2023 Curator of the Portuguese language and director of the prefaces of the participating authors and the general preface. (in Portuguese, Italian and English), in the anthology TRILOGIA POETICA “ACQUERELLI. WATERCOLOURS. WATERCOLORS”, Edizioni Universum; Capri, Italy.

2017 Coordinated and directed the video “Interpretação do trabalho da artista pelas crianças” – (Children’s interpretation of the artist’s work) – AADE gallery, Pinhel, Portugal.

2014 Coordinated, guided and participated as a teacher of arts for children in the summer project “Educura”, São João da Madeira, Portugal.

2014-2010 Coordinated, guided artistic and cultural activities in several Portuguese schools and institutions – “telling, interacting and promoting activities with children and teachers“, with her “Fadinha Lótus” books (like:  Pinhel Municipal Libraryl; Brincar Museum; Exhibition at the Pinhel Parish Council; Schools of Guarda; Belmonte, Marcos de Canaveses; Sabugal; Esgueira; Vilar and others), Portugal.

2013 Coordinated and taught painting classes for the elderly at the “Academia de Saberes” in Aveiro, Portugal.

2006 Coordinated and guided the exhibition “Olhar de Mulher” at the Municipal Gallery of Aveiro – painters and photographers from Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.

1999-1996  Coordinated and guided several cultural activities in her role as Director of Services at the University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.

1994  Coordinated and carried out projects as a “Cultural Agent” in the performance of her duties as Vice-President of the Licoa Association, allowing the recovery of chapels and churches in the municipality of Pinhel, (CCR- Coimbra); Pinhel, Portugal.