 He studied at the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, where he earned a BFA in 1951 and an MFA in 1952.While attending CCAC, he took an eight-week summer course in painting at Mills College taught by the German Expressionist Max Beckmann.After graduation Oliveira taught art at several colleges, including the California College of the Arts, The California School of Fine Arts (now The San Francisco Art Institute), the University of Chicago, UCLA and Stanford University.