Born in 1952 in Akron, Ohio, Marilyn da Silva is a metal artist and professor of jewelry and metal arts at the California College of Arts. Da Silva makes detailed, narrative sculptures using metal. These sculptures are notable for their colorful surface treatment, which da Silva achieves using gesso and colored pencils. Educated at Bowling Green State University in Ohio (BS in art education, 1974) and Indiana University in Bloomington (MFA in metalsmithing, 1977), da Silva taught at Bowling Green for nearly 10 years before accepting the position she holds now at the California College of Arts in 1987. While at Indiana University, Da Silva worked under ACC Gold Medalist Alma Eikerman, whom she cites as a mentor in the field. In addition to her work as a professor, da Silva lectures widely – often focusing on her unique approach to surface color. Her work has been featured in exhibitions around the country, and she is represented within the public collections of institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in Seoul and the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra. Da Silva was awarded a Master of the Medium award from the James Renwick Alliance in 2017, and she was elected a Fellow of the American Craft Council in 2007.