Pattern ana+betânia

Ana + Betânia, formed by Ana Cruz and Maria de Betânia (b.1983), are Portuguese artists whose ceramic sculptures merge classical craftsmanship with conceptual depth. Their work explores themes of duality, identity, and transformation.

• Collaborative Practice: After earning Painting degrees at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon, they began working together in 2012 at Muel Cerámica Viva in Zaragoza, developing a shared language between tradition and experimentation.

• Recognition: Ana Cruz became the first Portuguese ceramicist in the International Academy of Ceramics (2013). Together, they received First Prize at the Bienal d’Esplugues (2014) and an Honorable Mention at CERCO Zaragoza(2017).

• Exhibitions & Projects: Based in Caldas da Rainha, they collaborate with FOCO Gallery, Underdogs Gallery, and Pura Cal, exhibiting at Istanbul Art Fair, JustMad Madrid, and Volta Basel. In 2021, they created Reliquary Walking Dead for Fox Portugal (now Star Channel), presented in itinerant exhibitions and at Comicon Lisbon.

• Media Features: Their work has appeared in Vogue Portugal, Observador Lifestyle, Portuguese Soul, and Keramika Magazine.