Correa Da Silva Barbara

Barbara Correa da Silva was born on 8 June 1997 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Barbara, who was born with the condition arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), had to undergo her first operation at the age of 4 months. She had 6 further operations in the years that followed. She is unable to move her arms, hands and legs. Up until the age of nine she attended a Brazilian charitable institution providing physiotherapy and occupational therapy rehabilitation services.

Barbara comes from a very poor family; she is cared for by her mother, who also cares for her father who is at home and unable to work due to incapacity. He was diagnosed with cancer and, contrary to expectations, did not recover fully from the difficult operations he had to go through. Barbara is a cheerful, affable young woman. She goes to a normal school. When she was 10 she started painting.

Barbara is very enthusiastic about the painting lessons she receives. A short time ago she had the opportunity to go to an exhibition of paintings by mouth and foot painters, and came into contact with some of the artists.

She started off by painting with acrylics; in the meantime she now also uses oil paints.