Prof. Helena Elias (coordinator)
(Portugal)
Professor, research artist, she is part of an Erasmus generation, who studied and lived in cities like Lisbon, Aberdeen and Barcelona and attended several Faculties of Fine Arts, obtaining academic degrees in different systems of education and investigation in Arts (1999, 2000, 2007 ). She recognized the need to think about the place of artistic research in academia. Artistic practice, teaching, research are the activities that shape their scientific-artistic performance, fed simultaneously by the action of practice and theoretical reflection. Coordinates the line of investigation. Research in the making of arts and sciences in VICARTE.
Prof. Marta Castelo (coordinator)
(Portugal)
Lisbon, 1980. Graduated in Sculpture by Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade de Lisboa, PhD candidate and Sculpture professor in the same Faculty. She had a scholarships by Erasmus program in “Universität der Kunst Berlin”, in 2004/2005. She developed artistic residencies in ceramic sculpture in Oficinas do Convento, Montemor-o-novo, between 2006 and 2018. In 2010/2011, Marta Castelo finished a Postgraduation Course in Photography, Project and Contemporary Art, organized by Atelier de Lisboa and IPA. In her work raw and/or fired clay are used as a way to explore and think about the relationship between nature and construction, as well as the notions of ephemeral and fixation. She was selected for the Anteciparte awards in 2006 and has been participating in various exhibitions, both individual and collective, since 2008.
Igor Minin
(Russia)
My artistic practice is a blend of diverse influences, shaped by my background in animation, illustration, and street culture. With roots in Russia, I carry a nuanced understanding of life’s complexities, yet my focus remains forward-looking, constantly exploring new possibilities through art. Having lived in various countries, I draw on a global mix of experiences, creating works that blur the boundaries between cultures and realities.
Working across a wide range of materials and mediums—both digital and traditional—I’m driven by a desire to experiment and evolve. My pieces often incorporate symbolism and layered meanings, drawing parallels between past and future, the seen and unseen. I aim to provoke thought and evoke emotion, while maintaining a playful edge that challenges conventional perceptions. In this fusion of techniques and ideas, my work seeks to build bridges between worlds, offering viewers an invitation to explore new perspectives.
Miranda D’Ávila Winter
(Australia)
Miranda D’Ávila Winter (b. 2001, Germany) is an emerging Australian artist working in ceramics. Born to a Portuguese mother and an Austrian-Australian father, Miranda relocated to Australia shortly after her birth, where she was raised. Her multicultural background and diverse upbringing have significantly influenced her artistic vision.
Miranda pursued her undergraduate studies at the Queensland University of Technology, where she earned a Bachelor of Design in Architecture. Upon
completing her degree, she moved to Portugal, embracing her Portuguese heritage and continuing her education.
Currently, Miranda is pursuing a Master’s degree in Glass and Ceramic Art and Science at NOVA School of Science and Technology (NOVA FCT) and the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Lisbon (FBAUL). Her work is characterised by the transformation of crocheted objects into ceramic forms, a process that explores the interaction between materials, gravity, and environmental forces, creating pieces not only reflect her personal journey across cultures but also challenges conventional perceptions of materiality and form.
Kasia Lendzion
(Poland)
Kasia is a multidisciplinary artist with a strong interest in painting, sculpture and installation art. Artist has a special affinity for handcrafted techniques such as ceramics, glassblowing and sewing. A graduate in Painting from the Strzemiński Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, Poland, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in Art and Science of Glass and Ceramics at FCT NOVA in Lisbon, Portugal.
Guided by a deep love for color and the tactile process of creation, Kasia views manual craftsmanship as the core of her artistic expression. Driven by visual experiences, her work blends diverse mediums to explore the connections between art, nature and human emotion.
Vera Alexandra Cabido Mateus Andrade
(Portugal)
Graduated in Architecture in Lisbon in 2001 and holds a postgraduate degree in Sustainable Construction from Lusíada University in Lisbon.
Currently, she resides on the island of Madeira, where she has been part of the senior technical staff of the Regional Government of Madeira in the Department of Public Building Works since 2005. Her passion for ceramics began in 1996 when an art teacher introduced her to a journey of artistic exploration aimed at mastering this material. Over the years, she has participated in in several ceramics courses. She has received several awards for her work, including the 1st National Craft Award in 2017 in the category of “Innovation” and the 1st Prize at the inaugural edition of the Madeira Craft Award in 2020 in the “Contemporary” category. She also received an honorable mention at the Lisbon Design Show in 2018.
Always working in parallel between Architecture and ceramics, another passion emerged: glass. With the goal of advancing her work in ceramics with glass, she enrolled in 2023 in the Master’s program in Art and Science of Glass and Ceramics to explore the combination of these two fascinating materials.