Close Window

Laudelia Rivas

"I grew up in an environment that stimulated artistic sensibility and the development of hand-crafting abilities. My father was linked to literature and art, and he appreciated antiques, which he also collected. He also had an impressive library, which for many years was regarded as one of the greatest collections in the State of Pernambuco (Recife).

"I remember the collection of National Geographic Magazines he bought from an antiques shop. They were dated from 1922, and he had them bound. I inherited this collection, and later I donated it to the faculty for the formation of English Teachers in Petrolina. My father also had a furniture business and he dealt with textiles, which my mother often used to make dresses for my sisters and me.

"When I was a teenager I studied piano, dance and theater. At university, I studied Philosophy and Literature, and after graduation, I went to Europe with one of my sisters, who is an artist. We visited museums, shops, and every cultural thing Europe has to offer. I still have a Murano glass necklace that I bought in Venice when we were there.

"When I returned I got married and moved to São Paulo, where we lived for 12 years. I taught English and took courses on plaster modeling and painting whenever I had the time. Then we moved to Petrolina, and at the time, it was very difficult to find things in shops. So, I decided to open a boutique that specialized in women's fashion and accessories. One day I saw a person buying material to make jewelry items, and I became interested in the idea of creating my own jewelry. The first pieces I made were sold out, and I haven't stopped making more since then.

"I am a person of strong visual perception. I am attracted by colors, shapes and images, and I enjoy working with my hands.

"Intuition guides my selection of the materials. I feel stimulated when I see materials in shops or other places, and it inspires me to create, mix, and develop ideas. The place where I live now has a strong leather tradition and together with my husband, Hildemar, we have created a variety of leather goods adorned with gemstones, wood, resin, cloth, and metal.

"Novica offers me the opportunity to bring people around the world closer to my work. Artists and admirers will be able to see what we are capable of doing in this semi-arid region of Brazil. I have great expectations about working with Novica, and I look forward to see what happens next."