Maria Auxiliadora (Campo Belo, 1935–São Paulo, 1974) was a painter and self-taught artist, recognized for her depictions of everyday life and popular traditions. Her works portray domestic and rural life, Afro-Brazilian religious celebrations, carnival festivities, as well as urban life and the communities of São Paulo. Without formal art training, she began her artistic journey in childhood, learning embroidery from her mother at the age of nine. She later turned to drawing with charcoal and painting with gouache. At the age of 26, she experimented with oil painting. Recognition of her work came mainly posthumously, with particular acclaim from international critics. Her paintings are part of major public collections, including the Museu de Arte de São Paulo, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the Musée d’Art Naïf et des Arts Singuliers in Laval.