traditional sculpture

Northern Brazil celebrates life in unique and cheerful ways, with traditional celebrations that make the region's life a joyful party. Inspired by this lifestyle, artist Ivan Borges creates an ink composition on parchment paper, following a traditional technique that involves a detailed hand-carving wood process.

The piece comes unstretched and signed by the artist, who titles it Alegria de Sertanejo in Portuguese.

Roosters are often seen as protectors against evil forces, but for Brazilian artist Ivan Borges, these colorful creatures are a tender memory of his homeland. This talented artisan hand-carves his creation into a wooden piece depicting a rooster and his famous morning chat. Then, using traditional techniques, Ivan uses the carving to print an ink artwork on parchment paper.

Titled Cantar do Galo in Portuguese, the work comes signed and unstretched.

Christ the Redeemer, an icon of Brazilian culture, welcomes people from every corner of the world with the tender image of Jesus, who spreads his arms in a warm greeting. Inspired by this breathtaking monument to faith, art and science, artisans of the Joias do Rio Association handcraft a calcite sculpture inspired by the famous marvel. The stone also symbolizes healing and learning, adding a special meaning to the piece.

Luxuriously gowned in an antique silver hue, a dancer personifies Yemanjá, the goddess of all the earth's waters and mother of all Candomblé orixás.

The Candomblé religion is widely observed in northeastern Brazil. The name derives from kandombele, a Congolese-Angolan word meaning "to pray." Practiced in South America since slaves were brought over from Africa by the Portuguese, it combines Yoruban practices with Roman Catholic imagery. The orixás, or gods, are the forces of the earth; song and dance are a form of worship, and the dance impersonates the god, inspiring myths and legends.

As an homage to the doctrine's cultural richness, Hugo Negrini crafts an image that is both stunning and ethnographically correct. He first carves the image in wood, taking as long as 50 or 60 days, depending on the degree of detail in the piece. When the statuette is ready, he makes a silicone rubber mold and casts the sculpture in resin.

Poised like a diver, an athlete focuses mind and muscle on the task at hand. An homage to determination, sportsmanship and unifying competition. Smooth bronze represents competitors of all genders and nationalities.

Air bubbles dance in a hypnotic procession around this translucent paperweight. Imbued with vermilion light, the effect is captivating. The Seguso Family crafts the piece by hand with the same legendary blown glass techniques of Murano, Italy.

The presence of air bubbles accentuates the nature of the traditional hand blown crafting process, making each piece unique.

Seated, she rests her head on her knees, her inward pose seeking pleasure. Sculpted in bronze, the elegant nude exudes sensuality, grace and beauty. Jaqueline Cavalcanti celebrates woman with this exquisite work of art.

A crimson heart ignites the beauty of this crystalline fish from Brazil. Brazil's Seguso Family exhibits excellence in hand-blown glass, expertly shaping the friendly fish with vivid realism. They work with techniques originally developed in Murano.

The presence of air bubbles accentuates the nature of the traditional hand blown crafting process, making each piece unique.

This arresting Murano-inspired art glass sculpture is presented by the Seguso Family of Brazil. Like a fireball split in two, the vase features a half circle of red-orange glass suspended in clear glass.