Ana Realinho and Filipe Aguiar form “ARFA Cerâmica”, a name created from the initials of the artists’ names.

Ana Realinho was born on April 7, 1991, in Portalegre. She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Lisbon with a degree in “Communication Design” in 2013 and, after a few years working as a designer, she simultaneously began developing graphic projects with the aim of materializing them in ceramic pieces. In 2016, she moved to Caldas da Rainha where, the following year, she began to attend various ceramics-related courses at Cencal. One of these courses was the “Creative Ceramics Technician” course, where she was taught “Painting” by Teresa Lima and “Project Design” by Prof. José Carlos Matos.

Filipe Aguiar was born on 29/10/1990 in Lisbon and graduated from ESAD in 2013 with a degree in “Ceramics and Glass Design”. He took a three-year break from ceramics, but returned to Cencal in 2017 and 2019, where he took several courses, including “Creative Ceramics Technician”, where he was taught by Nadine Gueniou, who gave him the taste and vocation to pursue this area. In 2018, while still in training, Ana and Filipe moved to their current studio, which they share with José Matos, Paulo Óscar and Francisco Correia. Although Ana and Filipe work together with the “ARFA Cerâmica” brand, each has their own specialty: Ana is more dedicated to painting and Filipe to pottery.

“ARFA Cerâmica” works with earthenware, stoneware, red clay, water paint, glazes and dry rope. It also produces pieces by filling plaster molds. The pieces are utilitarian and decorative, such as tableware and tile panels. They receive orders for their collections from other artists, brands or private clients.

The branded pieces can be purchased in person at the studio, online, in some stores, fairs and galleries.