Shirley Villavicencio Pizango

In her expressive paintings, Shirley Villavicencio Pizango (b. 1988, Peru) uses memories, family stories and personal encounters to create poetic portraits of friends, family and strangers. She does not shy away from broader social themes such as gender, diversity and identity in a Western context.Her figures appear in settings steeped in symbolism: lush Amazonian flora, ceramic motifs and geometric patterns reminiscent of Inca culture. At the same time, Villavicencio Pizango draws inspiration from the European painting tradition in which colour and form acquire emotional power.This publication accompanies the exhibition A Tear for Power at Gallery Sofie Van de Velde, from 27 June to 30 August 2026.