Lauren and Luis Fernando Silva-Pinto's contemporary collection is reflective of their careers as international journalists and a shared passion for art that began in childhood. Starting at age 10, Fernando would ride his bike to the São Paulo Bienal to experience the latest in contemporary art in the burgeoning international art center. Lauren virtually grew up in the Detroit Institute of Arts, where her mother was a docent for 50 years.

Since moving to Washington, DC, they have collected DMV artists such as Tendai Johnson, Luis Silva, Nicole Salimbene and Ruza Spak. International artists include Teresa Esgaio (Lisbon), Patricia Secco (Rio), Candido Portinari (Rio), Aldemir Martins (São Paulo), Marignelli (São Paulo) and Christel Lechner (Germany). A favorite work is a 1955 piece by Huey Lee Smith.