Mariana Ralo is a Portuguese textile artist based in Lisbon, known for handwoven contemporary tapestries that bring texture, warmth, and an emotional presence into a space. Her practice revolves around a central idea: textiles as living surfaces—able to shift how a room is perceived and to offer both visual and tactile comfort. Her works are not merely “decorative objects” but pieces that engage with light, volume, and materials within contemporary interior design.
A Lisbon studio where craftsmanship meets design
In her studio, Mariana develops wall-based works, often conceived as statement pieces. Tapestry becomes a design gesture: each work looks like a “body” made of relief, density, and pauses, where the balance between solid and open areas is integral to the composition. The handmade dimension is essential—each piece takes shape slowly, as layers of fibre gradually build a textured, material landscape.
From an engineering background to the language of the loom
Her background in engineering shapes her approach to work, blending planning and precision with intuitive artistry. This balance is evident in the clarity of her forms and the stability of her compositions, even in soft, organic finishes.
Design, weave, and textile architectures.
Creating a contemporary tapestry often begins with research: sketches, samples, and material tests.
Before the actual weaving starts, she defines a “map” of textures. At this stage, the work will be more compact; however, it will breathe with lighter, airier fibres. Then, as the frame comes into play, the structure of the plot begins to appear. Consequently, the plot transforms into a writing made of tension, rhythm, and stratification. Ultimately, the interlacing evolves into a form of writing characterized by tension, rhythm, and layering.
In many pieces, the most powerful effect comes from relief. Mariana works with variations in thickness and knots, alternating flatter sections with more three-dimensional areas. The result is almost sculptural. The surface doesn’t simply catch the light, it breaks and reshapes it through delicate shadows and shifts in depth.
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Key works and project
Among her most documented and representative works is “Manta Rota” (2020), a handwoven tapestry made with cotton, wool, and other fibres. The piece features an electric-blue synthetic base that symbolizes the sea’s strength and fragility, conveying a message of environmental responsibility.
On the installation side, in 2025, Mariana presented a large outdoor tapestry connected to Lisbon Design Week: a monumental-scale work described as a six-metre tapestry, developed in collaboration with NAVITA® and FLOWCO®, with installation images shown at the Locke de Santa Joana complex.
Her recent exhibition track record includes: Young Design Generation (Lisbon, May–August 2024), COMPORTART (Comporta, September 2024), Curated by Lionel Jadot (Brussels, October 2024), Lisbon by Design (Lisbon, May 2025), Lisbon Design Week (Lisbon, May–June 2025), and Curated II (Brussels, September 2025).
Go here to visit Mariana Ralo’s website >
