About
Vanessa Barragão (Portugal) is a textile artist whose practice addresses the
urgent environmental impact of the textile industry, one of the most
polluting sectors in the world. She graduated with a degree in Fashion
Design (2010–2013) and a Master’s in Fashion and Textile Design (2013–2v016)
from the Faculty of Architecture at ULISBOA. Since 2016, she has been the
Creative Director of the artisanal rug factory Tapetes Beiriz and, since 2014,
the founder of her own studio. Barragão’s work has been exhibited
internationally in art fairs and design events in Europe, the USA, and Asia.
Vanessa Barragão’s work reclaims discarded textile
industry waste to create intricate, hand-crafted
artworks that reflect the fragility and resilience of
ocean ecosystems. Using ancestral techniques such
as latch hook, felting, knitting, macramé, and
crochet, she transforms deadstock materials from
local factories into sculptural tapestries, carpets, and
installations. Her practice is both a critique of the
mass-production model and a celebration of slow,
sustainable making. Barragão’s imagery often evokes
coral reefs and marine life—natural environments
severely threatened by climate change and ocean
pollution—turning textile debris into a visual
statement about regeneration, biodiversity, and
environmental stewardship.
urgent environmental impact of the textile industry, one of the most
polluting sectors in the world. She graduated with a degree in Fashion
Design (2010–2013) and a Master’s in Fashion and Textile Design (2013–2v016)
from the Faculty of Architecture at ULISBOA. Since 2016, she has been the
Creative Director of the artisanal rug factory Tapetes Beiriz and, since 2014,
the founder of her own studio. Barragão’s work has been exhibited
internationally in art fairs and design events in Europe, the USA, and Asia.
Vanessa Barragão’s work reclaims discarded textile
industry waste to create intricate, hand-crafted
artworks that reflect the fragility and resilience of
ocean ecosystems. Using ancestral techniques such
as latch hook, felting, knitting, macramé, and
crochet, she transforms deadstock materials from
local factories into sculptural tapestries, carpets, and
installations. Her practice is both a critique of the
mass-production model and a celebration of slow,
sustainable making. Barragão’s imagery often evokes
coral reefs and marine life—natural environments
severely threatened by climate change and ocean
pollution—turning textile debris into a visual
statement about regeneration, biodiversity, and
environmental stewardship.
Exhibition
2025
Immersion (Mergulho) – Centro Colombo, Lisbon, Portugal
THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE
2024
Submerged/Immersed – Lagos Cultural Centre, Lagos, Portugal
2020
Altered Realities with Fantastic Actions, Galería Casa Cuadrada –
Miami, USA
Art Miami – Miami, USA
Art Wynwood – Miami, USA
2019
Art New York – New York, USA
2018
Habitat Valencia – Valencia, Spain
Interieur Kortrijk – Kortrijk, Belgium
2017
Sitara – St Andrews, UK
Milan Design Week – Milan, Italy
Threads + Colour 2 – Sydney, Australia
Daily Day – Porto, Portugal
2016
Monocle Market – London, UK
2014
22 anos de Design – MUDE, Lisbon, Portugal
Demo’14 – Lisbon, Portugal
Fashion Five – FIL, Lisbon, Portugal
Immersion (Mergulho) – Centro Colombo, Lisbon, Portugal
THIS IS NOT A WHITE CUBE
2024
Submerged/Immersed – Lagos Cultural Centre, Lagos, Portugal
2020
Altered Realities with Fantastic Actions, Galería Casa Cuadrada –
Miami, USA
Art Miami – Miami, USA
Art Wynwood – Miami, USA
2019
Art New York – New York, USA
2018
Habitat Valencia – Valencia, Spain
Interieur Kortrijk – Kortrijk, Belgium
2017
Sitara – St Andrews, UK
Milan Design Week – Milan, Italy
Threads + Colour 2 – Sydney, Australia
Daily Day – Porto, Portugal
2016
Monocle Market – London, UK
2014
22 anos de Design – MUDE, Lisbon, Portugal
Demo’14 – Lisbon, Portugal
Fashion Five – FIL, Lisbon, Portugal