The exhibition brings together ocean-inspired textile artworks created from discarded industrial fibres, exploring marine ecosystems, traditional craftsmanship and environmental sustainability.
At the southwestern edge of Portugal, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the dramatic coastline of the Algarve, internationally renowned textile artist Vanessa Barragão is presenting Paisagens, an exhibition that transforms discarded materials into intricate landscapes inspired by marine ecosystems. Hosted at the Contemporary Art Centre of the historic Fortress of Sagres, the exhibition opened on 24 October 2026 and will remain on view until 5 January 2027.
Recognised internationally for her sculptural textile installations and distinctive approach to material reuse, Barragão draws on traditional craftsmanship to recreate the organic forms and textures of coral reefs, underwater vegetation and natural landscapes. Bringing together works from different collections, Paisagens explores the creative possibilities of textile waste while inviting reflection on humanity’s relationship with the natural environment and the resources it consumes.
The exhibition’s setting carries particular significance. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Fortress of Sagres is closely associated with Portugal’s maritime heritage, providing a historical and cultural context for an artistic practice shaped by the ocean and concerns about the vulnerability of marine ecosystems. Here, reclaimed industrial fibres take on new forms that echo the natural environments surrounding the historic site.
From Industrial Textile Waste to International Recognition
Born in Albufeira in 1992, Vanessa Barragão grew up surrounded by the coastal landscapes of southern Portugal. Her connection to the ocean became a defining influence on her artistic identity, informing a practice that combines textile craftsmanship, environmental awareness and an exploration of natural forms.
After studying fashion and textile design in Lisbon, Barragão moved to Porto in 2016, where she worked as a designer in a rug factory while developing her independent artistic projects. Her experience within Portugal’s textile industry provided insight into manufacturing processes and the surplus materials generated through production, which would become central to her creative approach.
Through techniques including crochet, latch hooking, felting, weaving and fibre manipulation, she developed a distinctive artistic language characterised by elaborate textures, sculptural surfaces and organic compositions. Her works range from tapestries and rugs to large-scale suspended installations, often resembling coral formations and underwater landscapes. Their complexity reflects the labour-intensive nature of her practice, in which traditional textile skills are adapted to create contemporary artworks.
Barragão’s work has attracted international attention through exhibitions, installations and commissions, including a large-scale textile world map created for London’s Heathrow Airport. Her participation in international cultural projects, including Expo 2025 Osaka, has further extended the reach of her practice, introducing audiences beyond Portugal to her interpretation of natural environments through reclaimed textile materials.
Her approach challenges conventional perceptions of industrial waste by demonstrating the artistic potential of existing resources. At the same time, it places traditional craftsmanship at the centre of contemporary artistic expression. Techniques historically associated with domestic textile production and artisanal labour become the foundation of ambitious sculptural installations, connecting inherited knowledge with current discussions about circularity, responsible production and material culture.
Where Maritime Heritage Meets Environmental Awareness
Paisagens opened as part of the tenth edition of Nova Escola de Sagres, an educational and cultural programme organised in partnership between the Fortress of Sagres, Museus e Monumentos de Portugal and the Centro Ciência Viva de Lagos.
The opening programme brought together scientific discussion, environmental education and artistic expression. Among its activities was a lecture by University of Algarve researcher Vânia Sousa, titled What Water Tells Us About the Past and the Future, which examined how water resources and natural ecosystems preserve evidence of climatic changes and how this knowledge can contribute to building more resilient communities.
Presented within a programme addressing climate memory, Barragão’s exhibition introduces a complementary artistic perspective. While scientific research examines environmental transformations through observation and analysis, her textile works offer a visual and tactile interpretation of marine ecosystems. The exhibition connects these environmental concerns with the material realities of textile production, drawing attention to the resources consumed by the industry and the possibilities for their reuse.
The exhibition also coincides with a development in the artist’s engagement with regional environmental heritage. In October 2026, Barragão announced her appointment as an ambassador of the Algarvensis UNESCO Global Geopark, encompassing the municipalities of Albufeira, Loulé and Silves. Recognised by UNESCO in 2025, the geopark promotes the preservation of geological heritage alongside education, cultural identity and sustainable regional development.
The appointment reflects the wider relationship between Barragão’s artistic practice and the Algarve’s natural heritage, where coastal landscapes, traditional skills and environmental awareness continue to inform her creative vision.
At Sagres, the relationship between the artworks and their surroundings is particularly compelling. The fortress’s maritime history and its position overlooking the Atlantic provide a setting in which Barragão’s representations of marine life acquire an additional cultural dimension. Her intricate compositions reveal how discarded industrial materials can be transformed through craftsmanship, while drawing attention to the natural ecosystems that inspire them.
Through Paisagens, Barragão brings together the material legacy of textile production and the visual language of the ocean, presenting an artistic practice in which resource recovery, traditional knowledge and contemporary environmental concerns are closely intertwined.
Paisagens by Vanessa Barragão is on view at the Contemporary Art Centre of the Fortress of Sagres, Portugal, until 5 January 2027. Published visiting hours are 9:30 am to 5:30 pm; visitors are advised to confirm current opening times before travelling.
For further information about Paisagens, exhibition updates and visitor details, visit the official Fortress of Sagres website. To explore Vanessa Barragão’s artistic practice, collections and international projects, visit her official website or follow her on Instagram @vanessabarragao_work
