Gustavo Assis
I hold a degree in Architecture and Urbanism from UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). After graduating, I worked in real estate management, renovations, and architectural design, but I have always been deeply drawn to Japanese culture — especially Japanese landscaping and the tea ceremony.
I lived for three years in Kyoto, Japan, where, while working and studying the Japanese language, I immersed myself in the tea ceremony and local culture. It was during this time that I discovered the richness of East Asian ceramics, which awakened in me a new artistic passion.
Upon returning to Brazil, I began studying ceramic art and realized that it allowed me to combine my admiration for Eastern aesthetics with my need for creative expression. Clay — a simple yet profoundly expressive material — offers the maker endless possibilities to leave their own imprint on each piece.
Criei então meu ateliê e especializei-me no uso de esmaltes antigos do Extremo Oriente, como celadon, tenmoku e sangue de boi, aplicados em peças utilitárias e decorativas para o uso cotidiano. Paralelamente, passei a desenvolver esculturas livres, fruto da imaginação e do gesto espontâneo.
In 2019, I moved from Rio de Janeiro to the mountain city of Nova Friburgo. There, I found a slower rhythm of life and a closer connection to nature, which began to deeply influence my ceramic practice. I taught classes, wrote about ceramics on my blog, produced commissioned and ready-to-ship pieces, and collaborated with interior designers, landscape architects, and fellow artists. I also took part in fairs and events dedicated to sharing ceramic techniques with the general public.
I now live in Almada, Portugal, where I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Art and Science of Glass and Ceramics at NOVA University Lisbon. This interdisciplinary program offers a unique opportunity to deepen my research and practice, exploring new intersections between art, science, and technology. I am motivated by the possibility of sharing these investigations through new products, pedagogical approaches, and artistic materials dedicated to the fire arts.
I hold a degree in Architecture and Urbanism from UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). Shortly after graduating, I dedicated myself to real estate management, renovations, and architectural projects. However, I have always been deeply interested in Japanese culture — especially Japanese landscaping and the tea ceremony.
I decided to live in Kyoto, Japan, for three years, where, while working and studying the Japanese language, I immersed myself in the study of the tea ceremony and local culture. During this time, I discovered the richness of East Asian ceramics, which sparked a lasting fascination in me. Upon returning to Brazil, I began studying ceramic art and realized that it allowed me to express both my admiration for Eastern aesthetics and my own creative impulses. Ceramics, after all, has a history intertwined with that of humanity itself, and it is made of clay — a simple yet deeply expressive material that offers the maker infinite possibilities to leave their imprint on each piece. I went on to establish my own studio, specializing in the use of ancient glazes from the Far East — such as celadon, tenmoku, and oxblood — applied to utilitarian and decorative pieces for everyday life. Alongside this production, I also began to create sculptures that emerged purely from imagination, without the constraints of functionality.
I went on to establish my own studio, specializing in the use of ancient glazes from the Far East — such as celadon, tenmoku, and oxblood — applied to utilitarian and decorative pieces for everyday life. Alongside this production, I also began to create sculptures that emerged purely from imagination, without the constraints of functionality.
In early 2019, I decided to move from Rio to the mountain city of Nova Friburgo. My studio moved with me, marking a period of great discovery. My new lifestyle and closeness to nature brought a renewed sense of purpose and harmony to both my life and my ceramic practice. Today, I live and work in Almada, Portugal, where I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Art and Science of Glass and Ceramics at NOVA University Lisbon. This interdisciplinary program offers a unique opportunity to deepen my research and practice, exploring new intersections between art, science, and technology. I am motivated by the possibility of transforming these investigations into new products, teaching approaches, and artistic materials within the field of the fire arts.
My mission
As an architect and craftsman, my work is deeply intertwined with my own history. I am dedicated to bringing life into homes through unique, handcrafted objects — offering an alternative to a world of impersonal and standardized goods. I believe that functionality, when combined with beauty, gives objects the power to positively transform people’s lives. From conception to completion, I engage with my work both artistically and pragmatically, and the final result reflects my love for objects — not only for their aesthetic qualities, but also for their harmonious integration into spaces and everyday life.
