He was born on December 5,1946, in Belo Horizonte- Minas Gerais – Brazil. He moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1949, where he has lived ever since. He started painting as a self-taught artist in 1961.

With Franz Weissmann, Oscar Niemeyer and Darci Ribeiro in Rio de Janeiro

Between 1963 and 1964, he attended the engraving atelier at the Rio de Janeiro Fine Arts School. He traveled to Paris on a scholarship granted by the French government, and stayed there from 1973 to 1976. In 1977, he returned to Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, where he held some exhibits. He was one of the founders and later on president of the Brazilian Association of Professional Artists.

With Bernardo Bertolucci in Rome

In 1982, he extended his political activities to the public sector and, as cultural administrator, took up the positions of member of the National Council of Fine Arts (Funarte), Visual Arts Coordinator of the Rio de Janeiro Arts Foundation (FUNARJ), from 1982 to 1986, Museums Superintendent for the Cultural Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro from 1990 to 1994, State Cultural Secretary from 1999 to 2001 and President of the International Relations Council of the Government of Rio de Janeiro in 2002.

With Ron Carter in Rio de Janeiro and with Ângelo de Aquino in Leblon