Introducing Graça Paz, an artist whose work transcends the boundaries of textile art and painting, creating a rich and emotional narrative through the transformation of the simplest materials. Born in Porto, in an environment dedicated to classical music, she soon developed a unique sensitivity, which is reflected in her artistic approach. Graduated in Fashion Design, her practice is a fusion of techniques and influences, where embroidery, drawing and painting meet, with a strong connection to feminine memory and the beauty of the imperfect.

Moving to São Paio de Antas (Esposende) in 2010 led her to dive even deeper into introspection and observation of nature. With the serenity of the countryside around her, Graça began to look at everyday life with a new perspective, revealing in each piece the poetry of the simple and the ephemeral, where each material and each creative gesture is a celebration of fragility and transformation.

What inspires your work?

Without a doubt, my line of thought, the study of various areas, emotional psychology, love as a source of study, music and the connection in terms of frequencies with the work itself and the color, the moment of life inserted in a context and in a certain period of individual and collective time. Worldwide. Universal.

What is your creative process?

I would say that it is a conversation that is generated, that comes from within me and manifests itself in shapes and colors, series after series. For this I need discipline and order, and there is already a creative process that begins with the formation of an idea, generally quite clear, and then the preparation of the support that is in itself pure poetry, and the progress to colors, and the constant work of supporting artist's notebooks. I have days of inspiration in which I look through magazines and books, make drawings and sketches, and take notes, lots of notes!

How do you feel your style has evolved over the years?

I have undoubtedly achieved my goal, and I imagine it is the goal of all artists. My visual identity has been established so that my paintings or works can be recognized without the need for a signature to validate them.

It went through many stages until I immersed myself in a subject that has always fascinated me: geometric abstractionism. Until I got there, I was searching for myself, a bit adrift. After that milestone, I never had any doubts again and I never got bored again.

Meanwhile, in this evolution, my training as a fashion designer (which was never of much use to me) came together until I realized that this course also played a role in this identity, and that it brought to my work a media mix of fabrics, embroidery, old or new cloths, and again geometric shapes and colors.

What advice would you give to someone who might be starting out in the world of arts?

Consistency and discipline are the cornerstones of building an artistic career. We may not know the path, we may not know what we really want to be as artists, but if there is the discipline to go to that place every day, physically or mentally, and the consistency of some daily work, there is a world of possibilities and the answers will come naturally.

Children and work are not excuses to get started. Starting is where you are, and that can be at the kitchen table for half an hour every night. I have personal experience that validates this.

It is also, in my opinion, essential to learn to communicate art from a place of truth and with wisdom based on personal experience and interests. At a time in the world when the doors have opened to the communication of any type of art, and this communication has become democratized, leaving the four walls of a gallery and giving greater responsibility to the artist, the more truthful and integral this communication is, the more attractive the work.

Favorite piece or collection?

It's like asking me if I have a favorite color! I don't have a favorite piece, because they represent different stages of my life and as such, I love them all when I release them into the world. When a series ends, something ends with it.

Any upcoming projects or exhibitions that you are excited about and can share with us?

I'm working on a really cool project for a hotel in Lisbon. I love working with public spaces, but above all, each project I do for each client that comes to me is small or larger, which fills my day-to-day life. I'm not super ambitious to achieve huge things, I consider that I've reached a place in life that is very comfortable for me and that makes me wake up wanting to live, and that's my biggest project!

Find out more about the artist's pieces at GRAÇA PAZ .