Ceramist Ana Valéria Cafezeiro exchanged her IT routine for manual modeling in Petrópolis, using art as meditation and creative therapy.
The search for quality of life after closing corporate cycles drives professionals to transform old hobbies into primary activities. The transition from exact sciences to artisanal ceramics highlights the role of art not only as an aesthetic expression, but as an active tool for meditation. It is precisely this movement that guides the new phase of former IT analyst Ana Valéria Cafezeiro, who found a new professional vocation in clay modeling to structure her routine in the countryside of Rio de Janeiro state.
Artistic Roots and the Pandemic Interruption
A native of Bahia, the artist has always cultivated a strong interest in the fine arts, having studied Artistic Drawing and Painting Techniques in the 1990s while living in Curitiba. Her inaugural contact with clay, however, occurred only in 2020 during a vacation visit to a studio in João Pessoa. The enthusiasm surrounding the discovery led her to start a course upon returning to Rio de Janeiro, where she lived at the time, but the hands-on learning was halted after only the fourth class due to the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Mountain Tradition and Setting Up the Studio
The rigorous resumption of her tactile research took place in 2022, catalyzed by her geographic relocation to Petrópolis. The mountain city possesses a consolidated historical tradition in clay production, which facilitated the creator’s rapid integration with other local ceramists, promoting an intense exchange of experiences and active participation in fairs and exhibitions. Her official retirement from IT Analyst activities at the end of 2023 allowed for full-time dedication to the craft, which became formally structured with the setup of her own small studio at her residence in 2024.
Ceramics as Meditation and Access to the Collection
The creative space is dedicated to making utilitarian and decorative pieces, always guided by a focus on the meaning and creativity of each shape. Far from corporate urgency, the time invested in the modeling, finishing, and glazing stages functions for the ceramist as a direct exercise in therapy and meditation, ensuring an exclusive moment of creative concentration.
With a large volume of ideas awaiting physical execution, members of the public who wish to follow the development of this new phase and purchase the original pieces can access the complete portfolio through the Instagram profile [@anavaleria.ceramicas].
Source: www.revistacreator.com