Artist

Sao is a professional artist and designer for over 30 years. A native of Portugal, Sao studied art and design in Denmark before moving to America to pursue her career.
Sao’s artistic creativity has been highlighted at museums and art galleries in America and Europe. Using her collage and pleating techniques in tapestries, wall pieces, costumes, couture dresses and art, Sao combined these with dance theater and environmental art to create elaborate expositions. She created all dance costumes for an original production of Ancient Voices of Children by the Gulbenkian Ballet in Lisbon, Portugal and for The London Contemporary Dance Theatre.

Her work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution’s Renwick Gallery, The Textile Museum, and the Corcoran Gallery in Washington DC; in Paris at the American Center for the Arts, the Gulbenkian Foundation and the American Embassy; at the Amphitheater in Arles, France; at the Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design; at the American Craft Museum in New York City and Museum of the City of New York. JoAnne Olian, the Curator stated that The Museum is proud to single out Sao as one of the true creators whose passion, energy and creativity will have a profound influence on the future of American design.

Both Viking Press and Penguin Books published her work in a book “Wearable Art” and she lectured widely on her design and art concepts and techniques, and published in numerous catalogues and other publications, and been featured in newspaper and magazine articles worldwide.
She was awarded a Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, granted The Washington DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Award and granted a Women in Design International Award.

Sao has always worked in textile, fashion and fine art simultaneously
Her Couture line was sold nationwide at prestigious stores such as Sachs Fifth Avenue, Henri Bendel in New York City and Harrod’s of London among many others.
Sao was represented by the Fendrick gallery in Washington DC and New York; alongside fellow contemporaries such as Albert Paley, Robert Indiana and Robert Rauschenberg. For many years thereafter Sao had her own store, exhibiting both her art and fashion line of women’s clothing in SOHO, New York City.
Sao currently works full time at her studio in Connecticut where one can see her work by appointment only. One can also see her new work under “Current Paintings”.

Artist Statement 

I draw inspiration from my experiences of having lived and worked in Africa, Europe and the US. Whether I express myself by painting, creating tapestries or wearable art, ballet costumes and fashion my view of horizons and serenity is always present. 

I seek to find inner peace and encourage thoughtfulness and kindness through my work. My paintings are intended to make a statement of finding beauty and stillness in the middle of a chaotic world.