Francisco Vieira, commonly known as Vieira da Silva, is not a singularly recognized artist under that name, which may lead to confusion with Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, a well-known Portuguese-French abstractionist painter. Maria Helena Vieira da Silva was born on June 13, 1908, in Lisbon, Portugal, and became one of the most prominent female artists of her time, particularly known for her dense and complex compositions that often resembled labyrinthine or architectural structures.
If you are indeed referring to Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, it's important to note that she studied painting in Lisbon and later moved to Paris, where she was greatly influenced by the artistic movements of Cubism and Surrealism. She married the Hungarian painter Árpád Szenes in 1930. During World War II, due to her Jewish heritage and the rising threat of Nazi occupation, Vieira da Silva and her husband fled to Brazil, where they remained until the end of the war.
Vieira da Silva is recognized for her contributions to the field of abstract expressionism, and she achieved significant critical acclaim during her lifetime. She received numerous awards, including the French government's Grand Prix National des Arts in 1966, and she became the first woman to receive the Grand Prix National de Peinture in 1977. Her works are characterized by their intricate detail, dynamic composition, and a sense of depth and space that challenges the viewer's perception.
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva died on March 6, 1992, in Paris, France. Her legacy is preserved through her works displayed in museums and galleries around the world, as well as in the Arpad Szenes-Vieira da Silva Museum in Lisbon, which houses many of her paintings and documents related to her life and career.
If, however, you are referring to a different artist named Francisco Vieira, I would need additional information to provide an accurate biography, as there might be several artists with that name, and without further context, it is challenging to identify a specific individual.