Márcia Neto’s creations express nature’s touch with realistic and clean designs
– September 3, 2024 | Text Beatriz Maio
The arts have always been an integral part of Márcia Neto’s life, from her childhood and adolescence to her academic and professional career. Growing up in Alcobaça, in the district of Leiria, Márcia comes from a family of ceramists and painters.
This artistic heritage sparked her creative journey early on, and she sold her first paintings whilst still in secondary school, but she soon realised that she preferred “working with three-dimensional forms and creating through the manipulation of physical matter”.
Márcia decided to pursue a degree in Sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts (University of Lisbon) and, in her final year, she took advantage of the Erasmus programme to study abroad at the Valencia Polytechnic University, in Spain.
Here, she explored various machines and techniques, which deepened her appreciation for working with materials like iron for large-scale sculptures.
During her summer holidays, Márcia would visit the Algarve to sell her pieces on the street after a colleague from Portimão suggested Lagos as an ideal location due to its culturally diverse local community and tourists.
This advice proved fruitful, and Lagos became a recurring destination for her, even when she still lived in Lisbon. Her dream of becoming a teacher led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Education in Arts.
She began teaching students aged 9 to 12 at a public school in Lisbon and later at a private institution in Estoril. Simultaneously, she was taking a jewellery-making course, initially with the intention of making puppets, a plan that soon evolved as she discovered the enchantment of creating her own jewellery pieces.
Márcia’s love for Lagos, coupled with her passion for creating jewellery from gold and silver, prompted her to establish a more permanent base.
Initially, she worked out of a van but soon recognised the need for a larger space to accommodate her creative and production process. After working in various locations, she finally settled in her current shop, Márcia Neto Jewellery, in 2020.
“When I started selling my pieces in Lagos in 2009, they were just displayed on cloths on the floor. Then I moved to a higher table, and today I have my own shop,” she said.
When reflecting on the close relationships she has developed with shopkeepers and traders over the years, Márcia also recalls her enjoyment of selling on the street, which offered a unique opportunity to experience fashion and human connections in a natural and often carefree environment.
Initially, she intended to use her shop solely as a work studio whilst continuing to sell her pieces in Largo Marquês de Pombal, in the heart of Lagos. “I never really wanted to have a physical shop,” she admitted, noting that it took two years for her to open the space to the public.
Stepping into the shop, her sources of inspiration (the sea and nature) are obvious. The simplicity of her necklaces, rings, and earrings will immediately remind you of the beach.
Márcia’s minimalist style ensures that her pieces remain faithful to their natural origins, with her dedication infusing each item with a unique and special touch. “For me, every piece of jewellery is an art piece. Even though each one can serve as an adornment and have a commercial aspect, it’s still a sculpture,” she explained.
Márcia has also continued to invest in her training, taking various courses to improve her technique, including stone setting and casting. “It’s essential to get good moulds to achieve maximum realism, which is my biggest goal. I try my best not to take away the details of each object,” she emphasised.
Márcia Neto’s collections are like treasure troves of shells, starfish, or sea urchins, as if gathered directly from their natural habitat.
“I try not to make it too far-fetched, but instead create something simple and as realistic as possible so that the piece lives on its own through a natural representation,” she noted.
Her idea of using shells came about during a beach walk with her two children. She realised that these marine elements, rich with memories, could serve as profound symbols in her jewellery. She also uses her works as a way to raise awareness and remind people of the need to take care of nature and pay homage to the natural world.
Whilst she allows each piece the freedom to convey any feeling, she admits that they all hold personal significance, especially the wedding rings, a commission opportunity she never refuses. As well as making personalised orders, the jeweller also offers to help customers create their own wedding rings.
Still faithful to her love for teaching, Márcia welcomes primary school students into her space to learn about jewellery-making.
In a world of infinite possibilities, Márcia Neto’s collections promise to continue to enchant and surprise her audience, and her journey may not end with jewellery. With a nostalgic fondness for sculpture and ceramics, she might revisit these forms, bringing fresh surprises to her artistic repertoire.
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