Former journalist Aline Angeli transforms pandemic hobby into acclaimed art career with three signature collections

Aline Angeli, a journalist and illustrator who discovered her primary form of expression in ceramics during the pandemic, currently exhibits at CasaCor São Paulo and is part of the Nordestesse collective, curated by Daniela Falcão. The artist from Rio Grande do Sul, now based in Maceió after living in São Paulo, develops clay pieces that have resulted in three signature collections inspired by the fauna and culture of Alagoas.

Despite always having been curious about multiple artistic techniques – from drawing, painting, graphic design and photography to sewing – it was in clay that she found her greatest means of expression. The discovery came by chance. “I started playing with a package of clay brought home by my daughter and became mesmerized by the modeling,” says the artist, who has always had a connection to art and design, writing for different magazines and projects.

In her quest to learn more, Aline found the studio of João Carlos Artífice, son of the great master João das Alagoas, who guided her first steps with clay following the same processes used by an entire generation of artists from Capela, disciples of João das Alagoas, such as Sil da Capela, Adriana, Nena and Vitinho.

“But the story started to get more serious when my brother, architect Tiago Angeli, saw one of the pieces and asked me to develop something similar for a project he was finishing,” she recounts. Excited, she developed a series of ten birds, photographed them and created a private Instagram profile just to organize a portfolio.

To her surprise, the photos were also shared openly on Facebook and seen by a friend who was curating the 7th Contemporary Art Salon of Alagoas (SACA). “I participated in the exhibition, opened the Instagram profile and, from then on, I haven’t stopped,” she says.

Since then, in addition to the “Birds” series, Aline has developed two other collections: “Coral Coast,” which offers a playful interpretation of fish species from Alagoas, and “Guardians,” featuring magical beings inspired by the refuge atmosphere of the Ecological Route of São Miguel dos Milagres, on the state’s northern coast.

Her pieces – which she herself defines as “half chicken, half bird, half fish, half whatever comes to mind” – have already earned her invitations to participate in the Nordestesse collective and currently have a presence in the Ecos Armoriais exhibition at CasaCor São Paulo, curated by Pedro Ariel and Rodrigo Ambrosio.

Her most recent creation, the Flights collection, brings together 60 ceramic drawings that explore forms, textures and the limits of clay. Individually hand-molded with organic clay from different towns in the interior of Alagoas and fired in artisanal kilns, the pieces are produced in limited editions of ten units of each model.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alineangeli/