Susana Cereja (Portugal, 1992) embarked on her career in architecture, though she has been drawing and painting for as long as she can remember. Throughout her studies in Architecture in Lisbon and a brief stint in Germany between 2011 and 2016, she delved into ancestral techniques of artistic production, discovering her true calling in Arraiolos tapestry, while also exploring Illustration, Drawing, and Printmaking at the Faculty of Fine Arts and Ar.co – Center for Art and Visual Communication, respectively.
During her architectural studies, Susana began her professional career as an architect at the studio of renowned artist Joana Vasconcelos, where she remained for five years. However, her passion for artistic expression never waned, and she solidified her presence in the world of visual arts with exhibitions in various locations, including London, Lisbon, Algarve, Águeda, Tallinn, and Kranj.
Susana Cereja's work is deeply influenced by themes such as femininity, the pursuit of freedom, and the essence of life itself. She is recognized for her talent in blending diverse artistic techniques, from printmaking to Arraiolos tapestry, with a special emphasis on emotional expression in her works. Her passion for the beauty of materials and her ability to reinterpret them in a contemporary context are evident in her work, which often delves into deep emotions and issues related to the human condition.
In 2022, Susana embarked on an artistic residency in Tallinn, Estonia, and it was in 2023 that she stood out as a guest artist at the International Textile Biennial in Kranj, Slovenia.
In addition to her regular work, Susana is dedicated to community artistic projects, leaving a significant impact at the local level. A notable example of this was her recent project in the village of Torrão, Portugal, in which she collaborated with community members, spanning a senior age group, for a month, resulting in a collective work involving nearly two dozen participants.