Helena de la Fontaine…

Helena's artistic journey began when she was born in the vibrant and culturally rich city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1958, her thirst for knowledge and passion for the arts led her to embark on an exciting new chapter in her life. With dreams of honing her skills and expanding her creative horizons, she embarked on an incredible adventure by moving to the romantic city of Paris, France.

Immersing herself in the artistic atmosphere of the Sorbonne and Ecole Préparatoire des Arts Décoratifs, Helena eagerly absorbed the wealth of knowledge and skills that the prestigious institutions had to offer. However, her desire for artistic growth was far from fulfilled. Determined to push her boundaries even further, she set her sights on London, where she would complete her Interior Design education at the esteemed Hammersmith College of Art and Building.

The years that followed were marked by both professional and personal development. From 1964 to 1969, Helena worked as an exhibition designer for a well-known British company. This allowed her to not only refine her design prowess but also granted her the incredible opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe, immersing herself in the wealth of diverse cultures and artistic experiences that the continent had to offer.

As fate would have it, love blossomed in Helena's life when she met and married Zulfikar Ghose, a talented poet. Their union brought them to the enchanting city of Austin, Texas, where Zulfikar worked as a Creative Writing Lecturer and Professor at the esteemed University of Texas. Together, they created a harmonious blend of artistic expression and intellectual exploration, further enriching their lives and inspiring their creative endeavors.

Helena's journey, from the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro to the bustling cities of Paris and London, and finally to the artistic haven of Austin, Texas, is a testament to her unwavering dedication to her craft. Helena dove into expanding her artistic expertise by becoming an etching student of Mort Baranoff for three years. In 1975, she established her own engraving workshop and continue to explore a variety of artistic expressions. Her experiences and the diverse cultural influences she encountered along the way have undoubtedly shaped her unique artistic perspective and contributed to her exceptional talent. as an interior designer.

Despite her birthplace, Helena prefers not to label herself geographically. She is simply a multi-medium artist whose techniques and the body of work created throughout her lifetime has no boundaries, geographical or otherwise.

Over the years Helena has participated in numerous exhibitions and competitions. Her art has been exhibited in London, Paris, Rio de Janiero, LA, San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, Honolulu, Calgary, San Diego, Puerto Rico, France, Italy, Panama, Ecuador, and many other locations in Texas and elsewhere in the United States.

Helena, now 85, continues actively creating art and living life fully. Her extensive collection will be moved in 2025 and shown exclusively at her gallery near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Limited works will be available for sale from her inventory in the United States through 2024. If you’re interested in purchasing, please submit a request to be on the mailing list*. You’ll receive notice when the collection is available for sale.

*Your contact information will NOT be used, sold, given or otherwise distributed to anyone else nor used by us for any reason other than to email regarding the sale.

Awards

2nd Hawaii National Print Exhibition, Honolulu Academy of Arts, 1972 - Purchase Award

IV Salão Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Rio de Janerio, Brazil, 1981 - Purchase Award

7th Norwegian International Print Biennale, Fredrikstad, Norway, 1984 - Biennale Prize

Bienal de San Juan del Grabado Lationamericano y del Caribe, Puerto Rio, 1986 - Honorable Mention

Bienal de San Juan del Grabao Latinoamericano y del Caribe, Puerto Rico, 1993 - First Prize

Solo Exhibitions

1978 La Galeria, Quito, Ecuador

1980 A.M. Galeria, São Paulo, Brazil

1980 Galeria Funarte Sergio Milliet, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1981 La Galeria, Quito, Ecuador

1981 University of Texas, Academic Center, Austin, Texas

1982 The Patrick Gallery, Austin, Texas

1982 Galeria Estampa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1982 M.S.C. Gallery, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas (with David Deming)

1983 Kaufman Galleries, Houston, Texas

1985 Mattingly Baker Gallery, Dallas, Texas

1986 Galerie Debret, Paris, France

1986 Galeria de Arte do Centro Cultural Candido Mendes, Rio de Janeiro

1987 The Brazilian Centre, London, England

1987 Museo de Arte Contemporaneo, Panama City, Panama

2000 Ravel Gallery, Austin, Texas

Private Collections

Madeline Aubrey, Austin, Texas

Bob and Barbara Wills, Austin, Texas

Bob and Nancy Inman, Austin, Texas

Leonard and Reba Gilman, Austin, Texas

Carla Wilson, Austin, Texas

Don and Susan Madden, Austin, Texas

Patty Clifton, Austin, Texas

Heidi Bleck, Austin, Texas

Mary Stephenson, Austin, Texas

S.A. Szygenda, Austin, Texas

Jerry Siegel, Austin, Texas

Tillie Kalz, Austin, Texas

Ray Hall, Austin, Texas

Mr. & Mrs. Henry Wetzel, Austin, Texas

Darrel O. Kirkland, Austin, Texas

Deborah Hay, Austin, Texas

Alessandra Lippucci, Austin, Texas

Cecilia and Gerard Behague, Austin, Texas

Mike Willat, Austin, Texas

Roy Maternak, Austin, Texas

Jean & Brian Knight, Morristown, New Jersey

John McKintosh Jr., Dallas, Texas

Dan Weisman, New York, New York

Robert Pucci, Monterrey, California

Steve Shinners, Chicago, Illinois

Carlos Gonzales, Quito, Ecuador

Sra. J. Barragán, Quito, Eduador

Sr. & Sra. Alfredo Pareja Diezcanseco, Quito, Ecuador

David de Castro, Quito, Ecuado

Monica Kupfer, Panama City, Panama

Aloy Alfaro, Panama City, Panama

Paulo Fontoura, Panama City, Panama

Edla de Garuz, Panama City, Panama

Ernesto Ortiz, Panama City, Panama

Sra Caillavet, Paris, France

Mr. & Mrs. A Mattart, Holland

Selected Collections

Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Fundacion Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

IBM-Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Exxon Corporation, Houston, Texas, USA

Mobil Oil Company, Denver, Colorado, USA

3D International, Houston, Texas, USA

IBM, Austin, Texas, USA

MCC, Austin, Texas, USA

Centro Cultural Candido Mendes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Puerto Rico

Fredrickstad Blad, Norway

Bank of America, San Francisco, USA

Bank of the Southwest, Houston, Texas, USA

3M Austin, Texas, USA

Republican Bank, San Antonio, Texas, USA

Fort Worth National Bank, Fort Worth, Texas, USA

RGK Foundation, Austin, Texas, USA

Ames Oil and Gas, Houston, Texas, USA

Chateaubriand Collection, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich Inc., Austin, Texas, USA

Museum de Arte Contemporaneo, Panama City, Panama

Museum of Contemporary Graphic Art, Norway

30 United States Overseas Embassies

Brendler Dove Architects, San Antonio, Texas

Weingarten Realty Co., Houston, Texas

Brown Maroney, Rose, Baker and Barber, Austin, Texas

McIntosh and Associates, Austin, Texas

Shefelman and Nix, Austin, Texas

Childs Fortenbach Beck and Goyto, Houston, Texas

Trammel Crow Co., Austin, Texas

Shapiro, Edens and Cook, Austin, Texas

Corn, Janda and Company, Austin, Texas

Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Austin, Texas

Holbrook, Kaufman & Becker, San Antonio, Texas

Morrison, Sieffert, Dallas, Texas

Mid States Engineering, Austin, Texas

Catalogue

I. LARGE DRAWINGS: Assembly-collage and mixed technique on Arches paper

a. Linear Dialogs 1986

b. Guide Lines 1985

c. Nocab 1986

d. Letters-Letters X 1984

e. Mati 1985

II. SMALL DRAWINGS: Assembly (tempera, oil pastel y pencil)

a. Letters 1984

b. Micropolyphony II 1982

c. Concentrate1984

d. Message 1985

e. Calli 1985

III. DRAWINGS IN SEQUENCE: Assembly (pencil on paper) in four parts

a. Quartet for red/blue/yellow 1981

IV. ENGRAVINGS: Etching and aquatint

a. Reflexes (23/50) 1982

b. Seven Notes (6/35)1985

c. Astromancy (12/15) 1983

d. Linked Figuration (6/25) 1983

e. Galaxu (7/10) 1983

f. Astromantic (3/10) 1984

g. Red Rhythms (monotype)1984

h. Instant Movement (10/15) 1984

i. A Not Action (3/15) 1987

j. To notice (5/15) 1987

V. PAINTINGS IN SEQUENCE: Acrylic on woven canvas

a. Noitedia Dianoite: painting in four parts1986

b. Margin: painting in four parts 1987