REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA IN JAPAN
INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION AND PRESS SERVICES
PRESS RELEASE
Tokyo, July 6, 2026 – Angolan visual artist Márcia Dias has once again raised Angola’s profile on the international art scene by winning the Gold Medal and the International Career Tribute Award Trophy at the International Contemporary Art Exhibition, Arte Brasil 2026, held July 1–5, at the Kariya Cultural Center Iris in the city of Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The event brought together artists from various countries in an atmosphere of cultural exchange, creativity, and appreciation for the visual arts, through exhibitions, meetings between artists, curators, and experts, as well as practical demonstrations of high technical skill.
Márcia Dias stood out to the jury by creating a work live and under evaluation in just 15 minutes, strictly adhering to the time limit set by the organizers. The painting depicts the African savanna, the African sun, and the baobab (imbondeiro), one of the most emblematic symbols of Angolan culture and African ancestry. Known as the “Tree of Life,” the composition showcased creativity, exceptional technical mastery, speed of execution, and artistic sensitivity—qualities that earned her the competition’s highest honor.
In addition to the Gold Medal, the artist received the International Career Tribute Award Trophy, an honor bestowed in recognition of her artistic career spanning many years and her contribution to promoting Angolan art on the most prestigious international stages.
This latest achievement reinforces a career marked by significant international recognition. In 2019, Márcia Dias received the Gold Medal at the World Trade Center in Dubai for her work Mumuíla. In 2023, was once again honored with the Gold Medal during the 64th edition of the Salon Premier in the United Kingdom for her realistic portrait of Angolan writer Óscar Ribas; on that occasion, she was also honored for her 20-year artistic career.
During her stay in Japan, Márcia Dias was received by the Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to Japan, Teodolinda Rosa Rodrigues Coelho, who congratulated the artist on this recognition and highlighted the importance of her work in promoting Angolan culture internationally.
The award she has now received in Kariya marks another milestone in Márcia Dias’s career and reaffirms the growing recognition of Angolan contemporary art on the international scene.
INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND PRESS OFFICE OF THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA IN JAPAN, in Tokyo, July 06, 2026. –
