Vanessa Barragão: The Fusion of Textile Art and Environmentalism
Vanessa Barragão, an artist raised in Albufeira in southern Portugal, where some of the best beaches in Europe are found next to the Atlantic, has been endowed with endless creative inspiration and a reverence for the environment. She crafts wall hangings and carpets using yarn recycled from textile factories. These pieces, reminiscent of nature, flow and intertwine to form immersive art installations.
The tapestries Vanessa creates from discarded yarn are vibrant and depict a multitude of landscapes. Her environmental artworks encompass fragile coral ecosystems, fungi, algae, rock pools, flora, and textures of the cosmos. A staunch advocate for science and art, she infuses new life into the remnants discarded by the vast textile industry. Each intricately designed piece not only showcases her artistic talent but also reminds viewers of the textile industry’s damaging footprint on marine ecosystems.
Journey into Art
Influenced by her family’s craftsmanship, Vanessa embarked on her artistic journey. Her grandmother excelled in weaving intricate rugs, while her father was a skilled carpenter. These familial artisan traditions deeply impacted her. However, it was not until after high school that she traveled to Lisbon to study fashion design and began her career. While working in the textile industry, witnessing waste became a turning point in her life. She decided to repurpose discarded textiles into unique art pieces.
The Craft Behind the Art
Her studio, established in 2014, embodies this philosophy. From discarded wool to synthetic fibers, her works display a rich spectrum of colors and forms. Employing age-old and handcrafted techniques like crochet, hand-felting, embroidery, and knitting, combined with innovation, Vanessa pays artistic homage to the beauty of nature.
From Idea to Creation
Vanessa’s artworks evolve naturally. Although she always begins with client needs, her creativity knows no bounds. Each piece narrates a unique story. For instance, to celebrate a collaboration between London’s Heathrow Airport and the Royal Botanic Gardens, she was commissioned to create a vast botanical tapestry. To capture the diversity of Earth’s environments, she employed a range of colors and textures to represent the planet’s vibrant landscapes.
Honors and Collaborations
In the art world, luminaries including stars like Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty) have lauded Vanessa’s artistic prowess. Renowned institutions like the Oklahoma Science Museum in the U.S. and the Discovery Museum in South Carolina have showcased her masterpieces. Vanessa’s journey to success has been both sweet and challenging. For a project at London’s Heathrow Airport, she committed over 500 hours of handcrafting, bravely tackling limited material and color choices.
Sintra Art Museum: A Dazzling Tapestry Exhibition
From June 29th of this year, the Sintra Art Museum in Portugal will exhibit the works titled “Forms: Catarina Nunes and Vanessa Barragão.” In this exhibition, Vanessa collaborates with renowned ceramic artist Catarina Nunes. Curated by Katherine Sirois, the exhibition seamlessly melds textiles and ceramics. Catarina draws inspiration from oceanic wonders, blending ceramics with blown glass, while Vanessa’s works resonate with themes of the ocean and flora. Together, their collaboration offers a fresh perspective on textile and ceramic art.
Art with a Sustainable Soul
Vanessa’s pieces are not only visually captivating; each embodies a sustainable ethos. She emphasizes the significance of reuse and recycling. Through her art, Vanessa intimately bridges the past with the future, presenting not just astonishing artworks but also advocating the crucial message of ecological preservation.
Vanessa’s website