My work does not begin with me.

It begins at home, in thread, ink, paper, paint, and images carried across generations. This section is a living archive of the artists in my family whose hands, eyes, and ways of making continue to shape how I see and build work in the world.

My sister Rosa Guimaraes is a Brazilian book artist and bookbinder whose practice is rooted in tradition, craft, and the poetic possibilities of the book as an object. Her path began with a deep fascination for materials, structure, and the rel

My sister Rosa Guimaraes is a Brazilian book artist and bookbinder whose practice is rooted in tradition, craft, and the poetic possibilities of the book as an object. Her path began with a deep fascination for materials, structure, and the relationship between hands, paper, and time. For three years, she worked and studied at The Center for Book Arts in New York, learning from leading figures in the field and working alongside renowned practitioners. After returning to Brazil, she co-founded Zoopress Edições Limitadas and has since dedicated herself to teaching bookbinding and cartonnage, sharing her knowledge through in-person and virtual studios.

Aunt Mercia was born in 1938 in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state. From an early age, she was deeply connected to the arts, she loved to dance, sing, and draw. As a child and young woman, she was known for her talent in drawing and painting, cr

Aunt Mercia was born in 1938 in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state. From an early age, she was deeply connected to the arts, she loved to dance, sing, and draw. As a child and young woman, she was known for her talent in drawing and painting, creating many artworks before later dedicating herself to porcelain painting, where she both taught and produced numerous pieces. She married young and had four children, yet she never stopped creating, continuing her work on canvas and porcelain throughout her life. Her dedication to craft and beauty, especially through her work with ceramics, became a lasting source of inspiration for me.

My dear cousin Nick El-moor was a Brazilian photographer based in Brasília. At 12 years old, he received a Kodak Instamatic 33 for Christmas, and within six months he was already developing his own negatives, the start of a lifelong dedication

My dear cousin Nick El-moor was a Brazilian photographer based in Brasília. At 12 years old, he received a Kodak Instamatic 33 for Christmas, and within six months he was already developing his own negatives, the start of a lifelong dedication to image-making. Beginning in the 1980s, he built a career in advertising and commercial photography, while also teaching university students and continuously exploring new personal art projects. His work reflected both technical mastery and a deep curiosity about the world around him. ♥ RIP

My brother in law Renato Alarcao is a Brazilian illustrator and visual arts teacher born in Rio de Janeiro. Inspired early on by the illustrated covers of his brother’s record collection, he pursued drawing as a way of storytelling, eventually

My brother in law Renato Alarcao is a Brazilian illustrator and visual arts teacher born in Rio de Janeiro. Inspired early on by the illustrated covers of his brother’s record collection, he pursued drawing as a way of storytelling, eventually earning a Master’s degree from the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he studied in the Illustration as a Visual Essay program. Over the years, he has illustrated numerous children’s books in both the United States and Brazil, while also working as a graphic designer and educator. His work combines narrative imagination with strong visual composition, reflecting a lifelong dedication to illustration as both craft and expression.

My cousin Gio Conti is a Prague-based automata maker, puppeteer, mask maker, and sculptor working primarily with paper and cardboard. From an early age, building things by hand became his way of understanding movement, character, and storytelli

My cousin Gio Conti is a Prague-based automata maker, puppeteer, mask maker, and sculptor working primarily with paper and cardboard. From an early age, building things by hand became his way of understanding movement, character, and storytelling through form. Over the years, Gil has created theatrical objects, moving figures, and expressive masks that merge craft, mechanics, and imagination. Alongside his performance and collaborative work, he develops personal projects that explore play, transformation, and the magic hidden in simple materials.

My mom, a school teacher with a lifelong devotion to embroidery, spent three months recreating the intricate armor of Henry II, King of France, entirely in thread. Born in 1940 in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state, she brought historical orname

My mom, a school teacher with a lifelong devotion to embroidery, spent three months recreating the intricate armor of Henry II, King of France, entirely in thread. Born in 1940 in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state, she brought historical ornament into the domestic space through patience, discipline, and a deep love of craft. She also worked in the fashion department at TV Globo in Rio de Janeiro, contributing special embroidery and costume work to several historical television productions. Stitch by stitch, metal became fabric, and armor became softness, transforming an object of power and protection into one of care, time, and attention.