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Versatile New Bedford artist inspired by her African, Portuguese roots

Vaseline

NEW BEDFORD – Self-taught New Bedford artist Eufemia Reis draws her inspiration from her ethnic roots and personal experiences. She especially enjoys painting the beauty and strength of African women.

Born in Angola to Cape Verdean parents, her major works are imbued with spiritual and cultural aspects of Portuguese-speaking Africa and Portugal. She lived in Lisbon for over forty years before moving to the United States twelve years ago.

“My signature pieces, which carry my image, are geometric paintings that mainly depict women,” says Reis, who is known in the art world as Gamboa, her father’s family name with origins in the Algarve.

What are Eufemia Reis’s favorite subjects?

She said that most of her pieces tell a story. Her favorite muse is the African woman because of her resilience despite the reality of the broken world around her.

“Women are very important beings,” Reis emphasized. “They bring new people into the world, take care of their families and homes. Unfortunately, we know that in certain countries and cultures, women are not treated as they should be. We know that in underdeveloped countries, it is not easy. I always have that in the back of my mind.”

One of her favorite collections is called African women. A work in progress, it comprises a series of oil paintings, each depicting a woman at a different stage in the cycle of life. In one painting, a woman is pregnant. In another, she is breastfeeding. In yet another, she carries a baby on her back using a traditional piece of cloth.

“The idea is to do 10 paintings in total,” Reis said. “Two of these paintings are currently on display at Gallery X in New Bedford.”

She says she has lost count of how many times she has painted African women.

Outside of African women collection, one of her favorite paintings shows an African woman wearing a headscarf, which she achieved by mixing oil paint with African printed fabric to emphasize ethnic beauty and traditions. Another favorite painting shows the back of an African woman.

“She’s turning her back on her home country; she’s leaving in search of a better life and new horizons,” Reis explained. “It’s called ‘Turning your back on the world.’ I used different colors to represent different situations that she encounters along the way. Gold represents the good things that she’s going to see.”

The batuqueiras are also among Reis’ most popular subjects. They are women performing a lively and rhythmic dance that is an integral part of Cape Verdean culture.

She also painted Cape Verdean children.

“One painting is called ‘The Horizon,’” she said. “It shows a child lost in thought, wondering what lies beyond where he is. It reminds me of the children of Brava Island, the island where my mother and husband were born. It is the smallest and most remote (inhabited) island in Cape Verde. For them, even moving to another island is a big step and an adventure.”

Although Reis is a portrait artist, she also enjoys painting landscapes. Her brushstrokes have captured beautiful images of the Azores, Lisbon, Greece and many other locations.

Her work often features Portuguese folklore, especially the colorful traditional dancers from the Minho region in northern Portugal.

She also painted the schooner Ernestina, which transported immigrants and cargo between Cape Verde and the United States for many years.

Which media does Eufemia Reis work with?

Reis’ artwork shows her versatility in media and her ability to mix colors and shapes. She has painted so much more than just canvases. Ceramics, glass, fabric, clothing, shoes, furniture, leather… she has painted them all. She also enjoys decoupage, which is when she cuts out images, glues them onto an object, and then covers the images and the object with layers of varnish.

“I’m very curious; I like to experiment with all kinds of materials,” she said, noting that art has been a passion of hers since she was very young.

“I’ve loved painting and drawing since I was little,” she added. “In school, I wasn’t very productive because I was always distracted by making my drawings. When my parents went to a school meeting, it was always the same conversations.”

Does Eufemia Reis exhibit her artwork?

Reis said most of her paintings can be found in private homes.

When she lived in Portugal she exhibited her work quite regularly, now that she is more used to this country she said she would like to do it locally.

She recently exhibited her work at the Consulate of Portugal in New Bedford and currently has a number of her pieces on display at Gallery X, located at 169 William St., New Bedford.

Eufemia Reis Founds House of Gamboa. What is it?

She currently has a virtual gallery and a small space called “House of Gamboa” in the collaborative workspace HUB 128, located on the third floor of the DeMello International Center at 128 Union St., New Bedford.

She accepts commissions for paintings and other types of art. She also does home decorating and event planning.

“My dream is to have a space with a street view and a window in the front,” she said. “Maybe someday.”

For more information about Eufemia Reis or House of Gamboa, visit https://www.houseofgamboa.com or email [email protected]

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