ROXANA FERREIRA
Artist of Life, Memory, and Migration
Born in Argentina and shaped by the winding paths of global migration, Roxana Ferreira is a painter whose work pulses with lived experience. Though a physician by training, Roxana found in painting a lifeline—a quiet but powerful rebellion against displacement, identity loss, and the ache of homesickness. Her canvas became a sanctuary, a space to gather herself and speak without words.
Roxana’s journey has taken her through multiple countries, each one leaving a mark on her soul and her art. What began as detailed realism—capturing life through the lens of precision and form—has evolved into something more raw, more hers. Her work now leans into emotion, memory, and personal truth, blending the seen with the deeply felt.
Using photographs as inspiration, Roxana translates her inner universe onto the canvas: the joy and pain of motherhood, the quiet strength of love, the tension of belonging and longing. Her paintings carry the rhythm of adaptation, of finding home in fragments—through landscapes, embraces, and gestures.
She doesn’t just paint what she sees. She paints what she has lived—a woman’s journey through countries, roles, and reinvention. Her brush tells the story of a wife, a mother, a daughter of Argentina, and a witness to the beauty and ache of human resilience.
Roxana paints life—its chaos, its stillness, and its grace.
Artist’s Background
Personal & Artistic Background
From a very young age, I felt a strong inclination toward art. I remember always being surrounded by colored pencils and school drawing classes, spending hours creating small works in tempera or acrylic. Crafts were always my favorite pastime.
At the age of 13, I discovered my vocation for medicine. I graduated and worked as an orthopedic surgeon for more than ten years, though I never stopped making art, which remained a constant hobby throughout my life.
During my professional years, I joined the Atelier of Sivana Garbarino, who guided me in the practice of oil painting and has since become my mentor and dear teacher.
In 2011, I left my home country,Argentina, when my husband was transferred by the company he worked for. This began our family’s journey through different countries—Uruguay, Brazil, and Panama—until we finally settled in Boise, Idaho. From that moment, art took on a new meaning in my life: first as a way to heal from the impossibility of practicing medicine and from the distance with my homeland, and later as a way to navigate life and see the world.
Process & Medium
I enjoy taking photographs—not only of my travels or family, but also of everything around me that captures my attention. I am generally very observant, drawn to the simple details of everyday life that might otherwise go unnoticed. When something captivates me, I take a photograph, and these images often become the starting point or trigger for my work.
Once I choose a photograph that resonates with me—depending on my mood or circumstances—I focus on the part or detail that inspires me the most. I then create a sketch on paper, deciding which elements to emphasize, which to relegate to the background, and how to balance the composition.
In the early stages, I think about the range of tones I want to use and how light and shadow will interact in terms of temperature, even if I later make different choices during the process. I record all of this planning in a notebook.
After selecting the format, I like to prepare the canvas by removing the stark white background with an undertone, which may or may not remain visible in the finished piece. I then transfer the design and begin painting. At present, I work primarily in oil.
Phylosophy & inspiration
In my work, I seek to explore the events that unfold in my life—the moments, images, and details that shape my personal universe and capture my attention for different reasons. It might be a photograph from a trip, a family outing, a glimpse of my garden, a familiar object in my home, or something unexpected I noticed along the way.
I think that in my artwork I share glimpses of my inner landscape.
I do not follow a specific theme. Each piece arises from what inspires me in that particular moment. Often, I choose to paint only a fragment of what originally moved me, leaving space for the viewer to engage with the work and reimagine it through their own experiences.
journey & growth
I believe one of my greatest challenges—and one I still face today—is understanding that I do not need a formal title to be an artist. The real challenge lies in believing in my ability and sensitivity to convey fragments of my universe through painting, and in accepting that my identity as an artist does not depend on a certificate or a piece of paper.
connection to community
Boise and its surrounding areas have a vibrant and diverse artistic community, such as the Treasure Valley Artist Alliance. I took the step to exhibit with them and had the honor of winning first place two years in a row in their annual juried show, Opus. That experience gave me the motivation to continue participating, and in doing so, I believe I am contributing to the enrichment of the community through my art.
beyond the studio
When I am not painting, I truly enjoy gardening; I have a wide variety of plants and a particular love for flowers. I also enjoy doing crafts, reading books, keeping up with regular physical activity, I love traveling and going to the movies with my family.
looking forward
I believe I still have a long journey ahead to keep learning and striving to improve every day. Having a solo exhibition would be a meaningful challenge in my artistic journey.