Silva studied at the Universidad Católica de Chile in Santiago. Trained in the field of printmaking in the late 1980s and part of the first generation of artists from Chile's post-dictatorship era, Silva has an interest in chance and coincidences found in his exploration of certain isolated phenomenon such as the tartan design, word-play, and first / third world interactions. These are interests that he also pursues as a member of the Jemmy Button Inc. with other artists and critics in Santiago.

He has exhibited in numerous international group exhibitions including: "Piel Frí­a", Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, Ciudad de México, México, 2003; "Big Sur", The Project Gallery, Los Angeles, USA and "Thinking Local", Sicardi Gallery, Houston, USA, 2002; "Da Adversidade Vivemos", ARC, Musee d’Art Moderne de la ville de Paris, France, 2001; "El Lugar No Ideal", Murosur Artes Visuales, Santiago, Chile, and VII Bienal de La Habana, La Habana, Cuba, 2000; II Bienal Mercosur, Porto Alegre, Brasil, 1999. His solo shows include: ""Tornado", Galería H-10, Valparaíso, Chile, 2003; "Ocho Columnas", Arena México, Guadalajara, México, 2002.

In this 2003 interview, Bill Kelley Jr. speaks with Silva days after his group show at The Project gallery in Los Angeles. They talk about the history of tartan design and abstraction in Latin America.