Joana Vasconcelos (Paris, 1971) is one of Portugal’s most prominent contemporary artists, known for creating large-scale sculptures and installations that reinterpret everyday objects through humor, social criticism, and references to popular culture. The daughter of Portuguese parents who emigrated to France, she moved to Lisbon as a child, where she grew up and began her artistic career.

He received his training at Ar.Co – Center for Art & Visual Communication, a space that emphasizes experimentation and multidisciplinary practice. It was in this context that Vasconcelos delved deeper into fields such as the fine arts, jewelry, imagery, and the visual arts, building a creative universe that integrates tradition, technology, and unexpected materials.

She began exhibiting in the 1990s and gained international recognition in the 2000s with works that transform household objects—from plastic cutlery to stainless-steel pots—into monumental pieces. Among her most iconic works are *A Noiva* (The Bride), a giant chandelier made of tampons; *Coração Independente* (Independent Heart), inspired by Portuguese filigree; and *Marylin*, a high-heeled shoe constructed from steel pots. Another milestone in her career was her solo exhibition at the Palace of Versailles in 2012, which made Joana Vasconcelos the first woman and the first Portuguese artist to present an exhibition at that historic venue.

Her artistic practice explores themes such as identity, gender, collective memory, and material transformation, combining traditional techniques with industrial processes. She currently directs the Joana Vasconcelos Studio, a multidisciplinary team responsible for producing her large-scale works, which have been exhibited in leading museums, biennials, and cultural institutions around the world.