We’re Getting A Big Dose Of Under-The-Sea Vibes From This Portuguese Textile Artist

Photos via Studio Vanessa Barragão

“I’m careful with the sustainability of my process and the materials that I use.
I am always looking for ways to collect more wastes from the textile industry and thinking
about how I can apply new recycled materials to my works. After knowing what was happening to the coral reefs—their bleaching and destruction—I decided to focus on this issue by raising awareness to it”

— VANESSA BARRAGÃO

At an early age, Vanessa Barragão honed her creativity through drawing and crocheting and later focused her studies on fashion design in Lisbon—practices that would prove imperative to her later body of work. This Portugal native—hailing from the coastal city of Albufeira—has been fascinated with the natural world and creating forms with her hands to replicate its terrain. With wool yarn cast as her medium of choice, Vanessa looked to the ocean as her muse crafting organic structures that mimic the seas coral reefs and lively plant life.

“During University, I grew not only personally but also artistically. I became more conscious about consumption, sustainability and being more eco-friendly in my daily routine and projects. I felt that I would like to explore more about textiles and handmade ancestral crafts, rather than continue in the fashion area.”

— Vanessa Barragão

Her art honors the delicate balance between the volatile state of the environment and our ability to protect it. Employing conscious material choices and recycled fibers, Vanessa beautifully combines art and nature in each dynamic installation she produces.

“I try to appeal people to be more conscious about what’s happening underwater and what they can change in their daily routines and actions to improve the health of our planet.”