I started working with ceramics in September 2024. Since then, I have shaped more than 200 pieces, one by one, learning at each step.
Ceramics came into my life at a moment when I needed to slow down. I began as someone looking for a moment for myself, without rush, just to breathe. And it gradually became part of my routine and my way of living.
My first contact with ceramics happened during an exhibition at the BASF headquarters in São Bernardo do Campo. I was there representing the Human Hand NGO, which I founded seven years ago.
It was at that event that I discovered the pieces from Rede Balsear and was captivated by the strength and delicacy of the ceramics. I also met Ana Lúcia, a ceramicist from the Riacho Grande region, with whom I had my first hands-on experience with clay.
Some time later, I wanted to learn more. I took a basic course with Ana Lúcia and, even though it was a simple introduction, it was enough to open my eyes and awaken my desire to continue on this path. That was when I realized I had found something I truly enjoyed.
Ana and I met again later during the ACISA Craft Fair, held at the Scania headquarters. We were in different moments of our paths, but connected through ceramics and the affection this journey brings.
Later on, I met the ceramicist Magali Ercolin, a master craftswoman with more than 25 years of experience. With her, I learned that working with clay is more than shaping forms. It is about listening, observing, accepting mistakes and respecting the time of the process.
Her pieces, made in faience and full of symbolic meaning, showed me another path within ceramics, deeper and more intuitive.
This practice naturally led me to the Japanese tea ceremony tradition, Chanoyu, which inspires me deeply. From there came the idea for my first collection: simple pieces with raw textures and glazes made with wood ash and coffee.
I have always been fascinated by Japanese culture. Walking through the Liberdade neighborhood in São Paulo is something I have done for years. I enjoy the calm atmosphere, the details, and the feeling that everything is made with care.
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. The right cut, the silence, and the respect for the ingredient.
Chef Renan Zonta Braga and me during a sushi course at Nagoya Sushi School. An experience that taught me about attention, respect, and silence—values I also bring to clay.
I have always been very active. I run businesses, lead projects and work with the NGO. But it was in ceramics that I found a different place. A place where time moves more slowly and everything asks for attention.
I am still learning. I want to understand more, experiment more, make mistakes and try again. I am not in a hurry, but I have a strong desire to continue.
This page is the beginning of something that is still growing inside me.
Welcome.
If you would like to follow this path, you can find me on Instagram @renatacatena.art