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Jônatas Chimen DeSouza Dias DaSilva-Benayon (b. 1981), known simply as "Jônatas," is a Brazilian-American Symbolist artist recognized for his profound exploration of identity, migration, and cultural hybridity. Drawing from his American, Brazilian, and Western Sephardi heritage, his work reflects his family's long history of exile—from the Inquisition-era Iberian Peninsula to their more recent migrations. Through his art, Jônatas navigates the complexities of adaptation and survival in an ever-shifting world.
Working across 2D, 3D, and time-based media, Jônatas blends traditional Spanish Realism with experimental, process-driven techniques. His use of archival materials — including documents and personal diaries —emphasizes the tension between displacement and belonging, celebrating cultural identity and the power of personal narratives. Over the past 20 years, Jônatas has been featured worldwide at biennials, museums, galleries, and auctions. He was the first student of Conchita Firgau — Venezuela's most prolific female artist and a contemporary of Salvador Dalí and Pablo Picasso at Madrid’s Escuela de Bellas Artes — while studing at the Art Institute of Weston (USA). He holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Master of Fine Arts from Florida International University. After growing up the United States, Jônatas now resides in Paris. |
