Aster da Fonseca has been a prolific artist since he first began painting in 1996 at age 35. As a new immigrant to the United States from his native Brazil, he discovered an instant affinity for the art form. Using self-taught techniques he closely observed in works at DC museums, da Fonseca brings the memories of his past in Brazil into the present immediacy of his paintings. He is in constant search of artistic growth and ways to articulate his experiences by telling stories through his artwork.

Da Fonseca moved to Oakland Park, FL, in 2016. His current collection of collages is inspired by time in his home garden watching the painted buntings, parrots, hummingbirds, and other fauna that visit his favorite garden trees, the Plumerias. Inspired by the simplicity of his surroundings, he reached for the leftover painter's tape around his studio. Da Fonseca began creating landscapes filled with a sense of peaceful surroundings and joyful birds. He uses acrylic paint on painter’s tape, designing various patterns and schemes. He cuts out each shape by hand with scissors and pastes the shapes onto vellum paper, developing woodland scenes with flying birds. His collages pay homage to spring, fall, and winter up north, treasured memories from his time in DC, reflecting on the neutral tones and falling leaves, frosty branches surrounded by tweeting birds. After he finishes each collage, he uses a matte polymer varnish w/UVLS for protection.