SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRAZIL
Tony Paraná is a self-taught artist, from the state of Bahia, Brazil. Located in the northeastern region of the country, Bahia is a state known for its rich colors, flavorful foods, beautiful landscapes, eclectic music and unique Afro-Brazilian traditions. Many of these components are portrayed in Paraná’s work as he captures subject matter ranging from community life to local architecture, all having warmth and vibrant movement.
Paraná works primarily in oil painting, mixed media, sculptures and mosaics. His work has been exhibited in São Paulo-Brazil, Los Angeles-CA, Albuquerque-NM, New York City-NY, Paris-France, San Antonio-TX, Austin-TX and in his current home, Houston-TX. His private collection has traveled across the country and internationally to places mentioned above as well as to Helsinki-Finland and Miami-FL.
““Happiness doesn’t come from the outside. It comes from what you give and from
what you do. When people look at my art, I want them to know me and also feel connected to the subject or message. I hope that each time people look at my art, they get infused with a different emotion.â€â€
Paraná.
BIO
Tony Paraná’s first contact with art was in his early teenage years drawing with his mother on the kitchen table in Bahia, Brazil. Years later, Tony Paraná moved to São Paulo, Brazil and met an established artist, Rodolfo Rondon who mentored him in the beginning of his artistic career.
In 2003 Paraná moved to New Mexico where he took the opportunity to start painting on a regular basis as he continued to learn and work on his technique. A few years later, in 2006, he started a local art meeting in Bernalillo-NM to bring exhibitions and art classes to the community.
In 2007 Paraná moved to Houston and started connecting with the art community.
Since 2009, he has been teaching weekly art classes to seniors at the Wesley Community Center in the Historic Near Northside. In 2010 he created a local art movement called the Montrose Art Society who became Forum 6 gallery in 2018.
In 2017 Paraná was invited to be the featured artist at the Bayou City Arts Festival Downtown, Houston, TX. In 2017 Paraná created the Mobile Art Space for the Artists (MASA) with the intent of traveling the city and offering free art, music, poetry and different cultural classes to the low income communities where he continues to work collaboratively with local organizations.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018 City Hall, Houston, TX
2018 Mobile Art Space for the Artists, Houston, TX
2017 Forum 6 Gallery , Houston, TX
2017 Loisirs et Culture, Soisy-sous-Montmorency, Paris – France
2016 Loisirs et Culture, Soisy-sous-Montmorency, Paris – France
2003 Arte Loca Gallery, Bernalillo, New Mexico/NM
 GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Year of 2020
Mobile Art Space for the Artists, Houston, TX
Year of 2019
Latino Arts Now, Houston, TX
Fresh Arts Cosmic Ball
Art On The Avenue, Houston, TX
Bayou City Arts Festival Downtown, Houston, TX
Bayou City Arts Festival Memorial Park, Houston, TX
Mobile Art Space for the Artists, Houston, TX
Healthcare for the Homeless, Houston, TX
Year of 2018
Spring Street ​Fall Biannual, Houston, TX Art on the Avenue, Houston, TX
WHAM Fresh Arts Houston, TX
Art City Austin, Austin TX
Art On The Avenue, Houston, TX
Bayou City Arts Festival Downtown, Houston, TX Bayou City Arts Festival Memorial Park Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, Houston, TX Healthcare for the Homeless, Houston, TX
Year of 2017
Midtown Art in the Park, Houstin, TX WHAM Fresh Arts Houston, TX
Spring Street ​Fall Biannual, Houston, TX Art On the Avenue, Houston, TX
Art City Austin, Austin – Third Place, TX
Bayou City Arts Festival Downtown, Houston, TX
Bayou City Arts Festival Memorial Park, Houston, TX
Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, Houston, TX
Year of 2016
Bayou City Arts Festival Downtown, Houston, TX
Bayou City Arts Festival Memorial Park, Houston, TX
Midtown Art in the Park, Houston ,TX
WHAM Fresh Arts Houston, TX
Spring Street ​Fall Biannual, Houston, TX
Art On The Avenue, Houston, TX
Year of 2015
Bayou City Arts Festival Downtown – Second Place, Houston, TX
HUE Mural Festival, International Street Art Festival, Houston, TX
Brazilian Week​, New York, NY
Year of 2014
Texas Artist Connection, San Antonio, TX
Year of 2013
Salon des Refusés exhibition, BLUEorange Contemporary, Houston, TX
Houston International Festival – Featured Artist, Houston, TX
Year of 2012
Houston Community College Northline for the Hispanic Heritage, TX
Houston International Festival – IFest, TX
Year of 2011
Houston International Festival – IFest, TX
Year of 2010
Montrose Art Soirée, Houston, TX
AWARDS
Featured Artist Bayou Art City Fest, Houston, TX – 2017 nd​
2​ Place WaterWay Art Festival, Houston TX -2017 nd​
2​ Place Best Artist – Bayou Art City Fest, Houston, TX – 2015 Best Seller, Bernalillo Arts Trails, Bernalillo, NM – 2003
PRESS
Signpost Featured Artist of the Month – October 2006
Brazilian Texas Magazine – October 2010
TejasTreffen Art Auction for a Good Cause – November 2016
Hot in Houston Now – September 2017
The Buzz Magazines- September 2017
Houston Press – September 2017
The Epoch Times Chinese edition – September 2017
The Courier Montgomery – October 2017
Houston Public Media – October 2017
Fresh Arts – October 2017
Houston Lifestyle & Homes – October 2017