Close Window

Orlando De Sant' Anna

Orlando De Sant' Anna began his artistic formation at the now extinct Fluminense de Belas Artes, where he acquired a solid base in design and composition. Painting evolved later, when colors and the world of decorative arts made a definitive entrance into his life, after several years spent abroad working as a textile designer.

Orlando's work features the detailed artistry that mirrors the colorful revelry within Brazilian culture, as well as that of other cultures for which he feels admiration, such as the Japanese and Chinese. They are his eternal passion and constant source of inspiration and reference.

Orlando's work has an undeniable decorative appeal featuring sophisticated graphic resources, whether it is on textiles or on ceramic. His cotton prints feature vibrant colors and images of Brazil's folkloric manifestations presented as a collage, resulting in a work that captivates for its originality. In Orlando's work, tradition and technique are joined in a contemporary language that is steeped in Brazilian essence.

His love of nature and search for tranquility has lead him to live and work in the mountains south of Rio de Janeiro. He lives in a house that dates back to the 19th century which used to be part of a coffee plantation and was in ruins when Orlando first saw it. He took upon himself the arduous task of restoring it and transforming it into a cultural center for all. Orlando's aim is to awaken in the younger generations the culture of, and the interest in, the conservation of their natural and cultural environments, and therefore of their own identity.