Joana Vasconcelos: Gateway

About

Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos was born in Paris in 1971 and now lives and works in Lisbon.   She has a studio consisting of over 50 people, considered a medium sized factory in Portugal where her team of skilled makers work on large and small projects.  Vasconcelos is conscious that while it is vital to keep traditional Portuguese craft skills- ceramics, knitting and crocheting alive, it is necessary- not just to make craft (that is repeating the past) but to add her artistic concept.  Her exhibition at Jupiter displays many skills, sewing and embroidery in her Valkyrie, metal work and engineering in her wrought iron teapot, and ceramic tiles and crochet in Volupta.  This summer she also has a solo show at the Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain.