The Portuguese textile artist will take part in one of the UK’s leading contemporary art events

Algarve-born textile artist Vanessa Barragão will showcase her works at the London Art Fair, one of the UK’s leading contemporary art events, between January 21 and 25, with a preview evening on Tuesday January 20.

Her work will be presented by independent curator and agent Ben Austin through Ben Austin Projects, who has been working with Barragão on exhibitions in Portugal.

The London Art Fair brings together modern and contemporary galleries from around the world, marking an important milestone for the Algarve artist. Barragão has already made headlines internationally, including with a major installation at Heathrow Airport and when one of her works was added to the permanent collection of the United Nations, gifted by Portugal.

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Clam – 2025 245 x 30 x 110 cm wool and tencel, metal, Latch hook, crochet

Earlier this year, she also presented the immersive installation Mergulho, As paisagens de Vanessa Barragão at the Colombo Centre in Lisbon, and most recently, she took part in a residency at the Portugal Pavilion during Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, an event that welcomed over two million visitors per day.

About the artist

Born in Albufeira in 1992, Barragão spent her early years exploring the Algarve coastline, developing a lasting connection to the ocean that continues to influence her work. She later completed a Master’s degree in Fashion and Textile Design at Lisbon University, where she explored the creative potential of yarn and tapestry, with sustainability and nature at the core of her practice.

In 2016, she relocated to Porto, traditionally regarded as the centre of Portugal’s textile industry. There, she refined her artisanal skills whilst working as a designer in a rug factory, alongside developing her own independent projects.

Her labour-intensive, three-dimensional suspended artworks, rugs and wall hangings have since gained international recognition. Using a wide range of traditional textile techniques, including latch hook, crochet, felt, weaving and fibre manipulation, Barragão creates tactile works that reference marine landscapes and ecosystems.

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