Although I’m still new to this world, I began my path in ceramics in September 2024 and have already shaped over 200 pieces, one by one, learning and putting my heart into each step.
Ceramics came into my life at a moment when I needed to slow down. I started as someone simply looking for a quiet moment — no rush, just to breathe. And it slowly became part of my routine, part of how I live.
My first contact with ceramics happened during an exhibition at BASF headquarters in São Bernardo do Campo, where I was representing the Human Hand NGO, which I founded 7 years ago. At that event, I was touched by the pieces displayed by Rede Balsear — works that carried strength, delicacy, and a connection with nature. That was also when I met Ana Lúcia, a ceramist from the Riacho Grande area, with whom I had my first hands-on experience with clay.
Some time later, I felt the need to learn more. I took a basic course with Ana Lúcia, and even though it was a simple introduction, it opened my eyes and made me realize how much I wanted to dive deeper into this world. It showed me something I knew I would love.
Me and Ana Lúcia at the ACISA Handicraft Fair, held at Scania. A special reunion with the person who introduced me to ceramics for the first time.
Ana and I met again during the ACISA Handicraft Fair at Scania. We were once again in different contexts, but connected through ceramics and the affection this path brings.
Later on, I met Magali Ercolin, a master artisan with over 25 years of experience. With her, I learned that working with clay is more than shaping forms — it's about listening, observing, accepting mistakes, and respecting the rhythm of the process. Her work, made in faience and rich with symbolic meaning, showed me a deeper, more intuitive side of ceramics.
That practice naturally led me to the Japanese tradition of the tea ceremony (Chanoyu), which inspires me deeply. That’s where the idea for my first collection comes from — simple forms, raw textures, glazes made with wood ash and coffee.
I’ve always been passionate about Japanese culture. Walking around Liberdade, in São Paulo, is something I’ve done for years. I love the calm atmosphere, the details, the food. It was there that I took a course with Chef Renan Zonta Braga from Nagoya Sushi School and learned that even preparing sushi carries a philosophy behind it — the right cut, the silence, the respect for the ingredient.
Me and Chef Renan Zonta Braga during the sushi course at Nagoya Sushi School. An experience that taught me about attention, respect, and silence — values I also carry into ceramics.
I've always been very active — I run a business, manage projects, and work with the NGO. But it was in ceramics that I found a different place. A place where time slows down and everything needs presence.
I'm still learning. I want to understand more, to try, to fail, and to try again. I'm not in a hurry, but I’m full of intention. This page is just the beginning of something that’s growing inside me.
Welcome.
Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram: @renatacatena.art