The artist was born in Ponta do Sol on the island of Santo Antão, but later moved to Portugal. Today he lives in Porto Salvo near Lisbon. David Levy Lima is recognized by art critics as the best Cape Verdean painter ever, and one of the most important contemporary African artists. Kiki Lima's works were exhibited in Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Cape Verde, Cuba and Macau. He accomplished over 85 individual exhibitions and participated in more than 160 collective ones around the world.