Marta Penter
Current Exhibition: 2nd Skin
St. Helena | October 3 - 31
Artist Reception
Saturday, October 3 | 4 - 6pm
"It is not just about reflections and overlapping images; it is about illusion and reality, a questioning of who we are in this dynamic exchange between the inside and the outside, here and there, the near and the distant, the now and what has been. It is a frantic search to recognize ourselves in this kaleidoscope of parallel worlds, chaotically wonderful, unfolding before us in the windows of life!
The windows are portals inviting us to look more deeply, revealing the untold stories that inhabit the space between what is shown and what is hidden. Thus, as we contemplate them, we are challenged to see beyond appearances, to decipher the narratives that echo in the shadows and the lights, and, ultimately, to discover who we truly are in this multifaceted universe." - Marta Penter
Marta Penter studied psychology before turning to art, a sensibility evident in her careful observations of human behavior and connections. She continues to live and work in in Porto Alegre, and has exhibited internationally at art fairs and museums.
Biography
Brazilian artist Marta Penter creates paintings, primarily large-scale canvases, that hold a magnifying glass up to human emotions and behavior, examining the multitude of meanings that unfold from all kinds of situations, gestures, and relationships in everyday life. Attuned to our ever-expanding dependence on technology and the complex way in which objects, structures, and systems define and order our world, she paints her scenes in exacting, realistic detail, rendering everything from layered reflections in shop windows to precise facial expressions and styles of hair and clothing with incredible skill.
Working in a limited, often mono- or duochrome palette of black (or blue) and white punctuated with intentional moments of saturated color, she focuses our attention on the relationships between her subjects, their placement in the frame, their cultural signifiers, and their moods. To spend time with one of her paintings is to be enveloped by an expansive, finely imagined record of contemporary existence. Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1957, Penter studied psychology before turning to art, her earliest passion. She maintains a studio in Porto Alegre and has exhibited internationally, from the U.S. to Europe to South Korea, with work in the collections of the MACRS and MARGS museums, Brazil.
Penter herself is an avid traveler, an artist whose creative process is sparked by the experience of being an observer in a new landscape: “being of the place, but not belonging to it.” She studied psychology before turning to art, a sensibility evident in her careful observations of human behavior and connections. She continues to live and work in in Porto Alegre, and has exhibited internationally at art fairs and museums.
Born
1957 Brazil
Works in Museum Collections
2017 “Summer of Love”, P.A./80, lithograph, Museu do Trabalho, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2010 “No title”, drawing on Arches paper, Donated by the artist, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2009 “IN Suspenso”, graphite and bic pen on paper, Donation: André Venzon, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2008 No title, P.A./110, metal engraving, Museu do Trabalho, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2004 “Autorretrato”, drawing and photography, Contemporary Artists Collection of the Vera Chaves Barcellos Foundation, Viamão, Brazil.
2004 No title, drawing and photography, Contemporary Artists Collection of the Vera Chaves Barcellos Foundation, Viamão, Brazil.
Solo Exhibitions
2026 2nd Skin, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St Helena, CA, USA
2024 Reflections, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St Helena, CA, USA
2022 Parallel Time, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Montecito, CA, USA
2018 Floating Time, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St. Helena, CA, USA
2016 Among Silence, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2015 Entre Silêncios. Museum of Art of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2013 Seeing and Being Seen. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2011 Otium. Campton Gallery, New York, USA
2010 Shared Intimacy. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2009 IN Suspenso - Marta Penter Drawings. Studio Clio Instituto de Arte e Humanismo, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2008 Intimidade Compartilhada. Galeria Bolsa de Arte, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2007 Ao Pé do Olhar – Aquarelas. Galeria João Lagoa, Porto, Portugal.
2004 Cruzamento de Tempos. Galeria Bolsa de Arte, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2002 Memorias. Galeria Bolsa de Arte, Porto Algre, Brazil.
1995 Aquarelas. The King Hooper Mansion Gallery, Marblehead, MA.
1994 Viajando Por Si Mesmo. Galeria de Arte Mosaico, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1992 Aquarelas. Galeria dos Arcos, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Group Exhibitions
2026 Há Pouco? , Vera Chaves Barcellos Foundation, Viamão, Brazil.
The Artist’s Proof – Print Collection of the Museu do Trabalho, Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2025 Ocre. Ocre Galeria, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
San Francisco Fall Show, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2023 Art Market SF, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2022 Tracing the Unspeakable, Ocre Galeria, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2019 Grace Kelly 90 Years, Prince Albert II, Monaco.
Art Market SF, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2018 Market Art+Design. Bridgehampton Museum, Bridgehamton, NY.
35th Anniversary Show, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco
2017 10 Year Anniversary Show, St. Helena, CA, USA
2016 Hyperrealism. Clayarch Gimhae Museum, Gimhae, South Korea.
Context Miami, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Miami, FL, USA
Context NY, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New York, USA
Art Market SF, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2015 Selections from the Collection: Paintings, Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul (MARGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
21c Hyperrealism: Breathing, Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon, South Korea.
Hyperrealism: To See, To Show and To Be Seen, Suwon Ipark Museum of Art (SIMA), Suwon, South Korea.
Art Market SF, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2014 Miami Context. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Miami, FL
PS Art Fair. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Palm Springs, CA, USA
Art Southampton, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Southampton, NY.
Constructive Voluptuousness: Pleasure and Order in Drawings on Paper, MAC-RS Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio Grande do Sul,
Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Uterus, Museum and Domesticity: Generations of the Feminine in Art, Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul (MARGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
30 x 30, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2012 Art Hamptons. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY, USA
2010 SF Fine Art Fair. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
Rendez-vous avec une femme. Ed II. Galerie Adler, Paris, France.
2009 Art Miami. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Miami, FL, USA
2008 Aquarela Internacional, Pinacoteca de São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil.
2007 Seleções da Arte Contemporânea Brasileira, Rio de Janerio, Brazil.
2005 Três Artistas Contemporâneos. Fundação Cultural ECARTA, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2004 IV Bienal de Aquarela. Viña Del Mar, Chile.
2003 Missões Jesuíticas do Brasil, Enartes. Viana Do Castelo, Portugal.
Missões Jesuíticas do Brasil, Enartes. Casa dos Crivos, Antigo Paços do Concelho, Braga, Portugal.
Missões Jesuíticas do Brasil, Enartes. Santo Tirso, Portugal.
2001 Missões Jesuíticas do Brasil, Enartes. Museu de Arte Primitiva Moderna, Guimaraes, Portugal.
1998 Retratos de Casamento. Museu Julio de Castilhos, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1997 X Encontro Arte Uniao. Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1996 8º Salao Brasileiro Mokiti Okada. São Paulo, Brazil.
IX Encontro Arte Uniao Porto Alegre, RS Brazil.
Janela do Artista II. Galeria de Arte Mosaico, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1994 Brindando’ 94. Galeria de Arte Mosaico, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1993 16 Salao de Arte Chico Lisboa, Menção Honrosa, Margs, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
Press
PRESS
Selected Artworks
Born
1957 Brazil
Works in Museum Collections
2017 “Summer of Love”, P.A./80, lithograph, Museu do Trabalho, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2010 “No title”, drawing on Arches paper, Donated by the artist, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2009 “IN Suspenso”, graphite and bic pen on paper, Donation: André Venzon, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2008 No title, P.A./110, metal engraving, Museu do Trabalho, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2004 “Autorretrato”, drawing and photography, Contemporary Artists Collection of the Vera Chaves Barcellos Foundation, Viamão, Brazil.
2004 No title, drawing and photography, Contemporary Artists Collection of the Vera Chaves Barcellos Foundation, Viamão, Brazil.
Solo Exhibitions
2026 2nd Skin, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St Helena, CA, USA
2024 Reflections, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St Helena, CA, USA
2022 Parallel Time, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Montecito, CA, USA
2018 Floating Time, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, St. Helena, CA, USA
2016 Among Silence, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2015 Entre Silêncios. Museum of Art of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2013 Seeing and Being Seen. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2011 Otium. Campton Gallery, New York, USA
2010 Shared Intimacy. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2009 IN Suspenso - Marta Penter Drawings. Studio Clio Instituto de Arte e Humanismo, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2008 Intimidade Compartilhada. Galeria Bolsa de Arte, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2007 Ao Pé do Olhar – Aquarelas. Galeria João Lagoa, Porto, Portugal.
2004 Cruzamento de Tempos. Galeria Bolsa de Arte, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2002 Memorias. Galeria Bolsa de Arte, Porto Algre, Brazil.
1995 Aquarelas. The King Hooper Mansion Gallery, Marblehead, MA.
1994 Viajando Por Si Mesmo. Galeria de Arte Mosaico, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1992 Aquarelas. Galeria dos Arcos, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Group Exhibitions
2026 Há Pouco? , Vera Chaves Barcellos Foundation, Viamão, Brazil.
The Artist’s Proof – Print Collection of the Museu do Trabalho, Casa de Cultura Mario Quintana, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2025 Ocre. Ocre Galeria, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
San Francisco Fall Show, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2023 Art Market SF, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2022 Tracing the Unspeakable, Ocre Galeria, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2019 Grace Kelly 90 Years, Prince Albert II, Monaco.
Art Market SF, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2018 Market Art+Design. Bridgehampton Museum, Bridgehamton, NY.
35th Anniversary Show, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco
2017 10 Year Anniversary Show, St. Helena, CA, USA
2016 Hyperrealism. Clayarch Gimhae Museum, Gimhae, South Korea.
Context Miami, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Miami, FL, USA
Context NY, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, New York, USA
Art Market SF, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2015 Selections from the Collection: Paintings, Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul (MARGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
21c Hyperrealism: Breathing, Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon, South Korea.
Hyperrealism: To See, To Show and To Be Seen, Suwon Ipark Museum of Art (SIMA), Suwon, South Korea.
Art Market SF, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2014 Miami Context. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Miami, FL
PS Art Fair. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Palm Springs, CA, USA
Art Southampton, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Southampton, NY.
Constructive Voluptuousness: Pleasure and Order in Drawings on Paper, MAC-RS Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio Grande do Sul,
Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Uterus, Museum and Domesticity: Generations of the Feminine in Art, Museu de Arte do Rio Grande do Sul (MARGS), Porto Alegre, Brazil.
30 x 30, Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
2012 Art Hamptons. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY, USA
2010 SF Fine Art Fair. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, San Francisco, CA, USA
Rendez-vous avec une femme. Ed II. Galerie Adler, Paris, France.
2009 Art Miami. Caldwell Snyder Gallery, Miami, FL, USA
2008 Aquarela Internacional, Pinacoteca de São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil.
2007 Seleções da Arte Contemporânea Brasileira, Rio de Janerio, Brazil.
2005 Três Artistas Contemporâneos. Fundação Cultural ECARTA, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
2004 IV Bienal de Aquarela. Viña Del Mar, Chile.
2003 Missões Jesuíticas do Brasil, Enartes. Viana Do Castelo, Portugal.
Missões Jesuíticas do Brasil, Enartes. Casa dos Crivos, Antigo Paços do Concelho, Braga, Portugal.
Missões Jesuíticas do Brasil, Enartes. Santo Tirso, Portugal.
2001 Missões Jesuíticas do Brasil, Enartes. Museu de Arte Primitiva Moderna, Guimaraes, Portugal.
1998 Retratos de Casamento. Museu Julio de Castilhos, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1997 X Encontro Arte Uniao. Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1996 8º Salao Brasileiro Mokiti Okada. São Paulo, Brazil.
IX Encontro Arte Uniao Porto Alegre, RS Brazil.
Janela do Artista II. Galeria de Arte Mosaico, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1994 Brindando’ 94. Galeria de Arte Mosaico, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
1993 16 Salao de Arte Chico Lisboa, Menção Honrosa, Margs, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
Brazilian artist Marta Penter creates paintings, primarily large-scale canvases, that hold a magnifying glass up to human emotions and behavior, examining the multitude of meanings that unfold from all kinds of situations, gestures, and relationships in everyday life. Attuned to our ever-expanding dependence on technology and the complex way in which objects, structures, and systems define and order our world, she paints her scenes in exacting, realistic detail, rendering everything from layered reflections in shop windows to precise facial expressions and styles of hair and clothing with incredible skill.
Working in a limited, often mono- or duochrome palette of black (or blue) and white punctuated with intentional moments of saturated color, she focuses our attention on the relationships between her subjects, their placement in the frame, their cultural signifiers, and their moods. To spend time with one of her paintings is to be enveloped by an expansive, finely imagined record of contemporary existence. Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1957, Penter studied psychology before turning to art, her earliest passion. She maintains a studio in Porto Alegre and has exhibited internationally, from the U.S. to Europe to South Korea, with work in the collections of the MACRS and MARGS museums, Brazil.
Penter herself is an avid traveler, an artist whose creative process is sparked by the experience of being an observer in a new landscape: “being of the place, but not belonging to it.” She studied psychology before turning to art, a sensibility evident in her careful observations of human behavior and connections. She continues to live and work in in Porto Alegre, and has exhibited internationally at art fairs and museums.
Biography
Press
Current Exhibition: 2nd Skin
St. Helena | October 3 - 31
Artist Reception
Saturday, October 3 | 4 - 6pm
"It is not just about reflections and overlapping images; it is about illusion and reality, a questioning of who we are in this dynamic exchange between the inside and the outside, here and there, the near and the distant, the now and what has been. It is a frantic search to recognize ourselves in this kaleidoscope of parallel worlds, chaotically wonderful, unfolding before us in the windows of life!
The windows are portals inviting us to look more deeply, revealing the untold stories that inhabit the space between what is shown and what is hidden. Thus, as we contemplate them, we are challenged to see beyond appearances, to decipher the narratives that echo in the shadows and the lights, and, ultimately, to discover who we truly are in this multifaceted universe." - Marta Penter
Marta Penter studied psychology before turning to art, a sensibility evident in her careful observations of human behavior and connections. She continues to live and work in in Porto Alegre, and has exhibited internationally at art fairs and museums.
Marta Penter
In her new series “Parallel Time,” Brazilian artist Marta Penter delves into the psychology of border-zones: between here and there, past and future, self and other, action and stillness. Rendered with her signature monochrome photorealism, accented with elements of bright pink or blue, figures flow through stages of transit, absorbed in their thoughts or the screens of their devices.
Current Exhibition: 2nd Skin
St. Helena | October 3 - 31
Artist Reception
Saturday, October 3 | 4 - 6pm
"It is not just about reflections and overlapping images; it is about illusion and reality, a questioning of who we are in this dynamic exchange between the inside and the outside, here and there, the near and the distant, the now and what has been. It is a frantic search to recognize ourselves in this kaleidoscope of parallel worlds, chaotically wonderful, unfolding before us in the windows of life!
The windows are portals inviting us to look more deeply, revealing the untold stories that inhabit the space between what is shown and what is hidden. Thus, as we contemplate them, we are challenged to see beyond appearances, to decipher the narratives that echo in the shadows and the lights, and, ultimately, to discover who we truly are in this multifaceted universe." - Marta Penter
Marta Penter studied psychology before turning to art, a sensibility evident in her careful observations of human behavior and connections. She continues to live and work in in Porto Alegre, and has exhibited internationally at art fairs and museums.