EDUCATION
MA Degree
2008, Masters in Fine Arts, Tufts University and School of the Museum fine Arts, Boston, MA
BA Degree
1999, Bachelors in Special Needs Education, Emphasis on Visual Arts, ISP Rafael Maria Mendive, Pinar del Rio, Cuba
WORK EXPERIENCE
2017, Art handler for Fritz Ewins Inc,
2008, teaching assistant, “transition drawing to painting” School of the Museum of Fine Arts
2003, Self Employed To present, Artist, Creating art work, promoting and exhibiting, networking and researching,
2005, Art Counselor, Somerville, MA
Taught bilingual Latin-American Teens in after-school art program,
1996-1999, Teacher Internships, Pinar Del Rio, Cuba
Taught expressive art as a therapeutic instrument at the following Special Needs Elementary Schools: 'Anton Makarenko', 'Ciro Redondo', 'Jose Marti', 'Primero de Enero',
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Solo and two-person shows:
2017, De Menil Gallery at Groton School, MA
2017, Trans Gallery, Harvard University, MA
2012, Gallery NAGA, Boston MA
2011, The Caturano Art Gallery Charlestown, MA
2009, Springstep, Art Gallery Medford MA
2008, St. Botolph Private Club, Boston, MA
2008, The New York Helmsley Hotel Gallery, New York, NY
2008, United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY
2008, Gallery NAGA, Boston, MA,
2006, Faces and Places, Gallery at the Piano Factory, Boston, MA
2006, Art-To-Go, presented by the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, Regatta Riverview Residences, paintings and sculptures, Cambridge, MA,
2006, Black history month celebration, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA,
2006, Cubist experimental works, West-Roxbury Court House, paintings, West-Roxbury, MA
2005, The Afro-Latino connection, Boston City Hall, paintings, Boston, MA
2005, Artists in Exile, Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center, paintings, Cambridge, MA
2004, Perspectives of My Life, Gallery of Social and Political Art, paintings and drawings, Boston, MA
Group shows:
2008, “MFA Graduates Thesis Show”, TISCH Gallery, TUFTS University, Medford, MA
2008, “Patterned Black”, Gallery NAGA, Boston, MA
2007, “Mediating the Mediated”, Courtyard Gallery, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
FUNDRAISERS/CHARITY AUCTIONS
2016 “Artcetera”,benefitting Aids Action Committee, Boston MA
2014 “Artcetera”, benefitting Aids Action Committee, Boston MA
2012 “Artcetera”, benefitting Aids Action Committee, Boston MA
2008 “Whatever it takes to save a child”, benefitting UNICEF, St. Vincent Private Club, Boston MA
2005 Benefitting Centro Presente, ‘International Institute of Boston’, Boston, MA
2003 Benefitting Haitian orphanage, 'Artist at Large' Gallery, Hyde Park, MA
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
2009, United Nations headquarters, New York, NY
2005, Tufts University Medford, MA
2003, ABCD Neighborhood Development, Boston, MA
BIBLIOGRAPHY/TV APPEARANCES
2017, Art Scope magazine, the Nelson Da Costa show ICONS, September- October
2011, McQuaid, Cate, “Expansion contraction and space in between”, Boston Globe, September 20
2010, McQuaid Cate,” Play with Forms, face, and figure, January 20
2008, Chayka, Kyle,” Angolan Civil War Refugee Nelson Da Costa, Tufts Magazine, April 15
2009, The Medford Transcript, Medford, MA
2009, NECN, cable TV, interview ‘Cover Story’, Boston MA
2009, Karmaloop TV, internet TV, interview profile Artist Nelson Da Costa
2009, Harvard Review, Published by Houghton Library of the Harvard College Library, number thirty five, Boston MA
2008, McQuaid, Cate, 'The Graduates', Boston Globe, April
2007, McQuaid, Cate, 'A visual feast with bold, delicate flavors', Boston Globe, January
2006, Catalogue feature, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Fall
2005, South Boston Online, Arts & Entertainment: ‘Annual Art Festival at library', August
2005, Catalogue cover, Cambridge Center for Adult Education,
2005, BNN, cable TV, Interview with 'It's all about arts', January
2004, Boston Metro, 'Exile on Second Street', April
2004, Catalogue cover, Cambridge Center of Adult Education,
Channel WB56, network TV, interview with, 'The 10 o'clock news':
2003, Boni, Susan C., 'Artist draws hope from Trauma of Angola', Boston Sunday Globe, September,
2003, Abel, David, 'Under one roof, at last', Boston Globe, July
2003, Boni, Susan C., 'Artists on the edge, of poverty', Boston Globe, June, 2
ARTIST'S TALKS/CONFERENCES
2017, Icons at Groton School at de Manil gallery October 20, Groton MA
2017 The Shape of Memory, countway Library Auditorium, November 2, Boston MA
2014, Art tool to build a community Boston College, Boston MA
2010, Art culture and citizenship, Tufts University, Medford MA
2009, featured artist and guest speaker for: ’Art and Activism for Social Change’ conference, Tufts University, Medford, MA
2009, featured artist and guest speaker for: ‘Barack Obama Inauguration day’, The Neighborhood House Charter School, Boston, MA
2008, featured artist and guest speaker for: 'Conversations with a continent', Museum of African Art, New York, NY
2008, Featured artist and guest speaker for: 'Social and political change', TUFTS University, Medford, MA,
2004, featured artist and guest speaker for: 'Y tu abuela, donde esta?', African-Latino conference, Northeastern University, Cabral Center, Boston, MA
FELLOWSHIPS/AWARDS/GRANTS
2008, School Museum of Fine Art, Boston MA
2010, Saint Botoloph Club Foundation, Boston MA
2011, Artist Fellowship, New York, NY
2011, Colleman E. Mellon BMY Foundation, New York, NY.
SKILLS
Fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese; Basic in French, Italian and German
Art handler and Art installer, exhibition organizer, Studio worker, Object describer