Wally Lafaiete is a creative based in San Antonio, Texas.

waldinei@hotmail.com

Photographer and artist Waldinei “Wally” Lafaiete merges his creative instincts with a love for storytelling through photography, assemblage, and encaustic art. For Wally, an image is more than a fleeting moment—it’s a conceptual piece, shaped by the beauty, symmetry, simplicity, and color of his subjects. This vision extends beyond the camera to his work with assemblage art, where he combines disparate objects to form unified, evocative pieces. Inspired by the multifaceted textures and sounds of his native São Paulo, Wally’s early life taught him resourcefulness—a quality that drives his assemblage pieces, composed of found objects, cultural symbols, and a rich sense of history.

After moving to San Antonio in 2009, Wally’s artistic soul found further stimulation in the city’s cultural diversity. His assemblages echo the eclecticism of the region, melding influences from Brazil with the multicultural vitality of South Texas. Through materials like wood, metal, and clay, he creates works that suggest spiritual exploration, personal history, and the stories of those who have come before. His hands-on approach, which favors natural imperfections over precise measurements, speaks to a deep trust in instinct and spontaneity. Wally’s assemblage series Broken Vessels & Fragments embodies this spirit, exploring themes of resilience, transformation, and reverence for the past.

In addition to assemblage, Wally’s encaustic art has received international acclaim for its textural depth and unique integration of wax and pigment, with pieces featured in exhibitions abroad. His encaustic work often accompanies his assemblage art, adding layers of warmth and depth to compositions, while encouraging viewers to pause and reflect.

Meanwhile, his fine art photography, showcased in international publications, brings all these influences together. With a degree in Psychology, Wally employs a unique approach to his portraiture, encouraging his subjects to step into character to achieve genuine expressions. From San Antonio socialites to emerging artists, his images capture beauty and personality, connecting individuals in a community of talent. Transitioning away from event photography, Wally is now focusing on studio work that elevates his vision for storytelling through visual media. Follow his evolving artistic journey on ThroughWallyLens, and see how he unites assemblage, encaustic art, and photography into a singular creative force.