São Paulo and Pomerode, Brazil
Artist and architect Olga Treivas continues her exploration of traditional craft through collectible design objects that merge primal forms with unexpected material combinations.
Presented at SP-Arte, her latest exhibition introduces new works from two long-running series — “Emma” and “Totems” — both reimagined especially for the fair while remaining rooted in ideas first developed more than a decade ago.
Treivas’s practice is driven by an interest in analogue labor and the emotional resonance of handmade processes.
Her works combine sculptural simplicity with rich craft traditions, creating pieces that are both contemporary and deeply connected to cultural memory.
The “Emma” series, subtitled “Sol Na Peneira,” draws inspiration from Treivas’s childhood memories, where construction-kit components mixed freely with yarn and textile fragments.
In this new iteration, the artist replaces industrial metal with warm Jatoba wood and incorporates hand-embroidered perforated solar motifs.
Produced at the Oficina São Joao workshop in São Paulo, the four collectible furniture pieces celebrate the universal language of weaving, knitting, and embroidery.
The title references the Brazilian expression “tapar o sol com a peneira” — literally, “to cover the sun with a sieve” — a phrase used to describe a failed attempt to conceal a mistake.
Treivas embraces this notion by highlighting the irregularities of hand embroidery rather than concealing them. Imperfection becomes a defining aesthetic feature, transforming the objects into sincere and profoundly human expressions of craft.
Alongside “Emma,” Treivas presents a new chapter of her “Totems” series, which investigates the artistic possibilities of crystal glass-making.
Earlier editions explored the traditional diamond-cut techniques of Russia’s historic Gus Crystal Factory.
The latest works, produced at the Cristais Tavares glass plant in Pomerode, expand the series through vibrant colors and rare decorative techniques inspired by Murano glass artisans in Venice.
The sculptural objects demonstrate how ancient craftsmanship can be translated into contemporary collectible design while preserving the tactile and cultural richness of handmade production.
Through both series, Treivas proposes a dialogue between architecture, art, and craft, emphasizing the enduring value of manual creation in an increasingly digital world.
This year marks Treivas’s first appearance at SP-Arte as an independent creator.
Previously, her works have been exhibited at MADE Fair, the International Architectural Biennale of São Paulo, and the Biennial do Mercosul, further establishing her distinctive voice within contemporary collectible design.
Project Name: Emma Series: Sol Na Peneira / Totems Series: Work With Crystal Glass
Designer: Olga Treivas
Manufacturer: Oficina São Joao Workshop / Cristais Tavares Glass Plant
