Sculptural jewellery transforms geometric principles into wearable pieces that honour family legacy and contemporary design

SÃO PAULO – Born in the São Paulo capital in 1959, Áurea Sacilotto has built a singular trajectory in Brazilian jewellery by combining her design training, artistic family influence and a sculptural vision of the craft. Having graduated in design from the Armando Alvares Penteado Foundation (FAAP) in 1982, she initially worked as a graphic designer before finding her true field of expression in jewellery.

The professional turning point came in 1999, motivated by her relationship with her father-in-law, the visual artist Luiz Sacilotto (1924-2003), an exponent of the Brazilian Concretist movement. The designer’s first collection was a tribute to the artist, based on a reinterpretation of the sculptures he produced in the 1950s and 1960s – a period marked by the exploration of geometric forms and the constructive synthesis characteristic of Concretism.

Metals as sculptural matter

For Áurea, metal does not function merely as a support for gemstones, but as a material of artistic expression. “Metal is a material in a liquid state that can assume any form”, says the designer, who constructs her pieces in a sculptural manner through cuts, sheets and wires.

The creative process explores a wide range of possibilities offered by metals. In addition to gold and silver, traditional jewellery materials, she works with copper, brass, nickel silver and even aluminium. The combination of different metals results in volumes, textures and colourations obtained through oxidation provided by fire – a technique that lends visual identity to her creations.

Versatility is the hallmark of the designer’s work. Many pieces feature movement and allow multiple forms of use: a necklace can transform into a bracelet or belt, for example. This playful characteristic also manifests itself in the choice of themes, which include collections inspired by Alice in Wonderland and other contemporary references.

Institutional partnerships and social projects

Since late 2017, Áurea has been developing jewellery for MASP Loja, the shop of the São Paulo Museum of Art Assis Chateaubriand. The partnership extends to the Pinacoteca de São Paulo as well, for which she creates exclusive collections. The collaborations with cultural institutions reinforce the dialogue between jewellery and fine arts present in her work.

The designer has also developed a line in Braille, having learnt the tactile writing system to create pieces with the words peace, love, life and secret. Part of the income obtained from the sale of these jewellery pieces is donated to the Dorina Nowill Foundation for the Blind, a São Paulo institution dedicated to the social inclusion of people with visual impairment.

Áurea participates regularly in the Rosenbaum Fair, an event that promotes contemporary Brazilian design and brings together creators from different areas. Her constant presence at the event consolidates her position amongst the leading names in national design.

With contemporary aesthetics and refined finishing, Áurea Sacilotto’s work represents a fusion of art, design and jewellery. Her creations function as portable sculptures, transforming metals into objects that transcend ornamental function and establish dialogue with contemporary Brazilian art.