Galvao was born in Brazil in 1941, and began studying painting in 1951. Between 1964 and 1966 he studied at The National School of Fine Arts at the University of Brazil. After that he moved to Paris to pursue studies in art under the direction of Jean Cassou. From 1966 and 1970 he frequented the ateliers of Sergio Camargo, Antonio Asis, Victor Vasarely and Yvaral. Galvao sculpts in wood, creating both wall reliefs and assembled standing sculptures. The spectator must view these reliefs from all angles, which are achieved and superimposed in an astonishing sinuous movement. Between the modules, which are sometimes round, sometimes cubes, there are three dimensional cavities, grooves, and furrows. The very dense forms seem to multiply before ones eyes and surge from the work.