Eulalio Fabie de Silva is a Chicago-based artist whose career reflects a lifelong pursuit of understanding identity, existence, and the human condition through expressive and thought-provoking art. Educated at the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1989, De Silva has since established himself as a multifaceted figure in the city’s art scene both as an artist and a curator. His creative journey spans decades of experimentation, introspection, and evolution, culminating in a distinctive body of work that merges philosophy, emotion, and form.
Early Career and Chicago Roots
De Silva’s early years in the Chicago art community were marked by an active engagement with local exhibitions and cultural initiatives. Throughout the early 1990s, he participated in numerous group shows across the city while also serving as a curator and exhibitor at the North Lakeside Cultural Center of Chicago. This period became instrumental in shaping his artistic philosophy and deepening his connection to the urban artistic landscape.
Rather than merely contributing to existing movements, De Silva sought to carve out his own space his own genre. His paintings began to reflect his unique interpretations of landscapes and figures, exploring their emotional and existential depth. Each canvas became a dialogue between form and feeling, capturing not only external environments but also the internal worlds of his subjects.
A Search for Meaning and Identity
At the heart of De Silva’s artistic philosophy lies an ongoing inquiry into human identity and existence. He often draws inspiration from Paul Gauguin’s famous existential question: “Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?” This timeless query, central to Gauguin’s late works, resonates deeply in De Silva’s practice. His paintings are visual meditations on these same ideas exploring who we are as individuals, how we relate to our surroundings, and how we understand our place in the broader tapestry of life.
This philosophical foundation gives his art a contemplative quality, often balancing between the tangible and the transcendental. His works do not merely depict scenes; they evoke an emotional response that invites the viewer to pause, reflect, and question their own reality.
Solo Exhibitions and Recognition
De Silva’s artistic journey reached several defining moments through his solo exhibitions. His first major solo show in 2009 at the Riverside Arts Gallery in Riverside, Illinois, presented a cohesive narrative of his evolving visual language. Two years later, his 2011 exhibition at Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois, further established his reputation as a serious voice in contemporary art.
In 2012, De Silva’s contributions to the Chicago art scene were recognized when DePaul University acquired seven of his works for permanent display in the Arts and Letters Building. This acquisition not only marked a milestone in his career but also ensured that his artistic vision would continue to inspire future generations of students and art enthusiasts.
Waiting to Meditate: The New Series
De Silva’s latest body of work, titled Waiting to Meditate, represents a mature and deeply introspective phase in his artistic journey. The series delves into figurative expressionism, rendered through oil paints and enriched with the luminous texture of faux gold leaf. Thematically, these works explore the concept of self as light our awareness of ourselves as spiritual or energetic beings inhabiting physical forms.
According to the artist, Waiting to Meditate is both a self-exploration and a subtle commentary on human hesitation. The title itself functions as a clever double entendre: are we truly meditating, or merely waiting to begin? De Silva uses this idea to illustrate the paradox of human existence our tendency to seek enlightenment while overlooking the fact that we already possess it.
This duality is expressed through figures depicted as detached, contemplative actors caught in their own soliloquies. There is humor, irony, and a touch of melancholy in their stillness. The viewer is left to wonder: are they waiting for someone, something, or simply themselves?
Style, Technique, and Influences
De Silva’s stylistic approach blends expressionistic energy with classical sensitivity. His use of oil on canvas creates depth and emotion, while the incorporation of faux gold leaf adds a spiritual and symbolic dimension. The reflective surfaces suggest illumination not only in the literal sense but also metaphorically, as an awakening of consciousness.
His influences span from early Post-Impressionists, who emphasized color and emotion, to the Neo-Abstract Expressionists of the 1980s, known for their intensity and gestural power. This fusion results in compositions that are both formally refined and emotionally raw. Brushstrokes are deliberate yet spontaneous; colors vibrate with inner life; figures seem to oscillate between material presence and ethereal light.
Through this synthesis of form and meaning, De Silva’s paintings transcend mere representation. They become visual meditations moments of stillness captured in motion, where human emotion meets spiritual inquiry.
A Continuing Journey of Artistic Inquiry
Eulalio Fabie de Silva’s art stands as a testament to the enduring power of painting to question, reveal, and transform. His works bridge the gap between philosophy and form, spirituality and humor, the personal and the universal. Whether through his early explorations of landscapes and figures or his recent meditative compositions, De Silva continues to challenge viewers to look beyond the surface to see themselves not just as physical beings, but as radiant, questioning entities in search of meaning.
In a world often dominated by distraction and noise, De Silva’s art reminds us of the value of contemplation, curiosity, and self-awareness. His Waiting to Meditate series, with its blend of introspection and irony, invites us all to pause to recognize the light within, and perhaps realize that the waiting has long been over.
