Livia Mourao

Teaching Artist

Livia was born in Brazil but, since 2005, she has lived in New York City, a place that has become her home and inspiration. She is the founder of NA Gaiola Projects, a mural service with in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Brazil. In 2021, Livia was awarded a CAC Art Grant by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Prior to that, she worked as a painter and color specialist for Jeff Koons from 2005 to 2021.

Livia joined Creative Art Works as a Teaching Artist in 2022, leading students in creating two stairwell murals at PS 192 in Harlem. Prior to joining CAW, she taught drawing and still life classes at the Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Brazil; and teaching adults, children, and people with disabilities at the Casa de Cultura Aristides, also in Brazil. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Manager for the Visual Arts Department and a Guide in charge of training and planning school trips and group visits to major exhibitions at the Palacio das Artes, Fundação Clóvis Salgado.

Livia has a BA in visual arts with a specialization in painting from UEMG. Baroque art, graffiti, and the richness of the environment have all played an active role in Livia’s work. Abstraction and realism combine with her unique perception of colors and brush strokes in her art. Her work has been featured at Guignard Gallery; Savassi Gallery; and Liberty Plaza/Urban Art, in São Paulo. Group exhibitions include Mark Borghi Fine Art in Manhattan and Shoestring Studio in Brooklyn. She was also part of the show and auction at Design Trust for Public Space in NYC, the "Talisman" group exhibition at Monica King Projects, and the “Censored” show at Pride Art in New York City. Her work can also be seen in the television pilots “Mating” on Showtime, and “Fashion Victim” on E!