The beginning

“Ten years ago I sold everything I owned, including my ceramics studio, and immigrated with my family to Portugal. This has been one of the best decisions of my life. To me this wasn’t a sacrifice, but always a new beginning, I just never anticipated it would take ten years to happily announce that I am now the proud owner of Atelier Retiro (Studio Refuge) and will return to making ceramics full-time.
Atelier Retiro is located in historic city center Guimarães, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and will offer ceramics classes along with a variety of workshops by local and international artists.
It is an honor to provide a space for my community to come and work in the arts something I know many of us, including myself, will need after the events of this past year.
It is still early days, much needs to be done and our collective health needs to be stable before Atelier Retiro will be in full bloom, but I cannot wait to share our mess and adventure with you all!”

What an incredible journey so far! Atelier Retiro is finally taking the shape I always imagined, and the patience and dedication I put into the space is something I feel very proud of. It was a long road to get here, and all the effort was worth it, especially when I think about the ground. It's not just a surface; It is the foundation for my creative work, and now it is finally aligned with the energy of the rest of the space.

I love how the environment has taken shape, and even the neighborhood bird seems to be giving its approval. I feel like the universe is somehow saying "yes" to this new chapter too.

It's an incredible feeling to know that, after so many challenges and so much time waiting, everything is finally happening. I created the perfect space for clay and creativity to flourish.

When it is safe to open the doors, I know the welcoming atmosphere will be as magical as the space itself. I can't wait to welcome anyone who wants to stop by and share a moment of conversation or inspiration. And as for what I'm going to create first, I have so many ideas in my head... but I think I'll start with something that connects me even more to the new environment, maybe a piece that represents this new beginning.