Academic background

1975 – 1981 Degree in Plastic Arts, National School of Art, Sculpture and Engravings, "La Esmeralda" of the National Institute of Fine Art, Mexico City

1969 – 1970 National School of Anthropology and History: Museum Guide Studies (1970-1975), Mexico City

1965 – 1966 Bilingual Secretarial Studies: Teresa de Ávila Institute, Mexico City

1963 – 1964 High School: Loretto Academy, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

1954 – 1963 Primary and Secondary School: Instituto Femenino Mexicano Sagrado Corazón

workshops and symposiums

2001 First International Sculptural Symposium, Punta Sur. Isla Mujeres, Mexico (Workshop with 23 International Sculptors)

1974 - 1975 Sculpture Workshop led by Saúl Moreno. Unidad Independencia, Mexico City

1966 – 1960 Painting Workshop led by José Suarez Olvera, Mexico City

1964 – 1965 Painting Workshop led by Korleen Nelson, Ontario, Canada

Silva Arana García was born on the 16th March 1947 in Mexico City and currently lives in Cancun, Mexico. Self-defined as a “labourer of shapes,” her sculptures can be found in cities and private collections in countries all over the world, including Mexico, the United States, Canada, Guatemala, Panama, Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Spain, China, Singapore, Lebanon, Thailand, Indonesia and Australia.

After completing primary school in Mexico, Silvia’s family moved to Ontario, Canada, where she attended secondary school and perfected her English. This allowed her to complete a degree in bilingual secretarial studies. In 1969, she began work at the Museum of Anthropology and History in Mexico City, where she gave guided tours to personalities such as Queen Elizabeth and Henry Kissinger, recounting to them the history of Mexico.

Silvia completed a degree in Plastic Arts at the National School of Art, Sculpture and Engraving, known as “La Esmeralda” of the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City, at a time when women were vastly outnumbered in this field. “I used to think that sculptures on a grand scale was only a thing for men,” she recalled in one of her interviews.

Focused mainly on feminine figures, she has left her legacy with a number of sculptures that now form part of daily life in several cities and she has been rewarded with some important accolades. This includes “The Pillars of Construction,” a monument located in Cancun, dedicated to the bricklayers, as well as several artworks at the Sculpture Park of Punta Sur, on Isla Mujeres, and at the main entrance of the University of the Caribbean.

“Silvia Arana’s women are always looking forward towards the future. They are that, women, and with that, they have a way of being so substantial, so ingrained, and so whole”, wrote Germán Dehesa about her work.

“The sculptor is a real worker because they have to do heavy lifting, they have to get dirty, to bend, and to move. For a sculptor, completing a sculpture is really important, it’s a real challenge,” symbols are images forever. “Being a sculptor is a wonderful dream to happen in life,” is how Silvia describes her vocation.

national awards and recognition

1980 - First Place: Photography Competition "La Esmeralda", National School of Painting and Sculpture, National Institute of Fine Art, Mexico City

1980 - Selected work at“La Esmeralda,” Mexico City

1985 - Recognition by Anahuac University, Mexico City

1986 - Recognition by Núcleo Radio Mil, Mexico City

1987 - Recognition by National Association of Charros, Mexico City

1999 - Recognition by Radio Ayuntamiento, Cancun, Mexico

2000 - Recognition by Technological University of Cancun, Mexico

2001 - First Place: Competition to design a "Monument for Bricklayers", commissioned by the Council of Benito Juarez, Cancun, located on the roundabout between Kabah and Lopez Portillo Avenues. (The Pillars of Construction)

2001 - Recognition "The best" (sculptor) awarded by the Government of the State of Quintana Roo and Channel 13, Cancun. (Oscar Cadena)

2001 - Recognition "Distinguished Visitor" awarded by the Municipality of Isla Mujeres

2001 -Selected by CONACULTA, to represent the state of Quintana Roo in the "First International Sculptural Symposium,  Punta Sur,  Isla Mujeres, Mexico

2004 - The sculpture "Island of Women" was selected to be placed on the main roundabout of theLas Americas housing development, Mexico City

International awards

1988 - Certificate of Excellence in the International Art Competition, "Art Horizons", New York, USA.