In wood etched by time, Iuri Lima writes his story. A story that began in the
neighborhood of Itacaranha, in Salvador, Bahia—where the sound of waves from
the Bay of All Saints met the rhythmic echo of his father’s hands. His father, a
visual artist, carved dreams into wooden prints. It was there, surrounded by the
smell of paint and sawdust, that young Iuri discovered his destiny.
At just 8 years old, he was already trying to imitate his father as he left for work—
small hands filled with immense curiosity. By age 11, he was helping with the
carvings and paintings. And when illness eventually stole that ability from his
father, it was Iuri who stepped in. From then on, the wood belonged to him.
With his father’s untimely death, Iuri inherited not just a craft, but a calling.
For years, he balanced two paths: one in the arts, and the other in soccer. From 19
to 25, he played as a professional athlete. But when he realized his truth wasn’t to
be found on the field, he returned to his roots.
Art—like a voice that had never gone silent—called him back.
His first exhibition was in 2013, at Salvador’s City Hall. A powerful homecoming—
now as an artist in his own right.
Two years later, in 2015, life introduced him to a new landscape: Lisbon. He was
brought there by a childhood friend and welcomed by Café Gandalata, which
supported his artistic rebirth.
Between tables and tubes of paint, Iuri rebuilt his path with humility, talent, and
persistence. His art reached new audiences, new horizons—and new stages: Hotel
NH, Galeria Sá da Costa, and Galeria Onofre in Portugal; the Carrousel du Louvre
in Paris; Espacio Gallery and the Brazilian Embassy in London.
At one of these exhibitions, he performed a live art piece, creating a work before
the audience’s eyes—an artwork that now belongs to the permanent collection of
the Earthquake Museum in Lisbon.
Carving Life with Art
Iuri Lima