Shirlei has been involved with art since her childhood. As a little girl, she participated in and won a drawing contest in the school where she studied in Uberaba (MG). However, what made her even happier than winning the contest, was the participation of the writer and illustrator Ziraldo in the contest jury.
She also had the opportunity to attend specific art courses. She learned to paint on fabric with her teacher, Dona Dina Castanheira, a skill that she carries with her to this day.
Shirlei was an art teacher in schools in Marabá (PA) and took part in the Feira Cultural da Faculdade Europa in the same city, exhibiting canvases with bird themes, in which she used newspaper and magazine painting techniques, as well as natural paints.
For the Arte-em-Cores Project, Shirlei created a work that exalts the natural wealth of the city of Marabá with its elements of fauna and flora. Chestnut and guarana trees, toucans and lowland vegetation are part of the scenarios that served as source of inspiration for the artist.