Andreia de Almeida

AdeA Atelier

Woodcarver

A distinctive path in the art of woodcarving

Andreia holds a woodcarving degree from the renowned FRESS Arts and Crafts Institute in Lisbon
She opened her atelier to develop independent projects alongside working with FRESS on specific projects
Her expertise is applied to heritage restoration, traditional and modern creations

When speaking of her passion for crafts Andreia de Almeida refers to her grandfather who was a tailor. She chose wood over textiles, training in one of the best European woodcarving schools. “My master, Manuel Abrantes, at FRESS taught me everything. I was lucky to be able to work in the Foundation’s woodcarving workshop before opening my own atelier AdeA,” she explains. Her carving, cabinetmaking and gilding skills enable her to restore heritage and sacred art pieces in churches, make classical Portuguese and French pieces, as well as create more contemporary art works. Thanks to this broad experience, Andreia was selected to be a master in the Homo Faber Fellowship programme in 2023. "It was my turn to transmit knowledge to a younger fellow and contribute to maintaining woodcarving as a relevant craft for future generations," she says.

Interview

Why did you choose woodcarving?: My interest in crafts comes from my grandfather, who was a tailor. I was attracted to wood, to be able to restore or transform it into a beautifully decorated piece thanks to my hands and tools. Woodcarving used to be an extremely valued profession and I wish to bring that back.
How did you find taking a fellow under your wing during the Homo Faber Fellowship 2023-24?: I am ever so grateful to my mentor at FRESS for everything he taught me. In turn, being able to share my experience with my fellow Manuel thanks to the Homo Faber Fellowship was unique. He studied at FRESS and now works there, so I feel I was able to give back by teaching him and seeing him flourish.
Could you share a memorable woodcarving project?: There was a complex frame I made, to preserve the legacy of a family’s history. The chess set made at FRESS with Manuel using repurposed wood as part of the Homo Faber Fellowship was another, especially since it was selected for exhibitions in London, Venice and South Korea.
What message do you give younger generations interested in woodcarving?: I tell them there are challenges in traditional woodcarving with modern machines and the fast consumption of our times. But I also tell them the beauty of manual woodcarving remains unrivalled if they aim for excellence, persevere and truly love the craft.

Andreia de Almeida is an expert artisan: she began her career in 2004 and she started teaching in 2023