Susana Cereja is a multidisciplinary artist, more focused on textile in the last few years. The artist born in 1992 in Portugal and still lives in Portugal, near Mafra, in the Lisbon district. Susana studied architecture, drawing and textile, in Portugal, Spain and Germany, working for five years as an architect with one of Portugal's most recognized artists. She has now been living as an artist for 6 years, and in the last year has had several international projects, one of them as a guest artist at a Textile Art Biennale in Slovenia, BIEN.How did you get into art?
I have always been into art. As a child I was always interested in drawing and painting. I did lots of paintings. And then it just came naturally. Later I went into architecture, I loved it, and I never stopped studying more about drawing and textiles, my current focus.
How would you describe your style? What makes your work special?
Some people say I have a pop style because of color; other people say my work is related to craft, and it is a bit because I work a century technique, Arraiolos tapestry, a Portuguese technique born in 16th century. But for me my work is special because is a loving project, loving brand. I don't just develop artworks, physical pieces, I also develop community projects with my art and create impact in local communities with it.How do you go about developing your work?
I draw a lot before producing a tapestry. I always develop an idea, a concept, by drawing. And then I make more technical drawings (my God, it is a good thing I am an architect too!) and then I start production. But even though I have the technical drawings, I am always free to change and go back.Who or what influences you?
Several! Andy Warhol and David Hockney in color; Picasso about drawing; Anni Albers in textiles; Nancy Spero in the expression.
Make us curious. What are you planning to do next?
Definitely more Artist Residency projects around the world and more community projects too. I am an artist who lives in Portugal, Lisbon, but now I am in the United Kingdom to develop a new project. I wish to spread my art and knowledge around the world, working with different people and interesting projects. Learn more about the artist: