The search for broader knowledge and a great curiosity about arts lead Monica to study Arts Theory at the Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro, at the Metropolitan Museum of NY, and at the Louvre in Paris. Her intimacy with nature has been her inspiration. Tracking through florests, rivers, shores, mangroves, mountains and plains she usually picks what se calls “fascinating organic leftovers”. These pearls of nature took up her balcony’s space as well as her time until se found the courage to trust her instincts and her talents for good.

Tropical lianas, trunks, leaves, broad bean pods, fibers, seeds, calabashes, shells and stones compose the basis of her creative process which follows three main lines:

Art items like panels, boxes, sculptures and mobiles;

Decorative items like cushions, curtains, table cloth, lamp shades and tiebacks – made with flexible materials such as fibers of Tururi (palm tree from Amazon), Moeda seeds (a seed that resembles leather from Minas Gerais) or Cálice (a sensual, velvet-like flower);

Fashion items like bags, vests, bracelets, earrings and necklaces, manufactured with seeds, fibers, ethnical beads and latex.

Her work and the contrasts of its materials remit to ongoing ecological problem, alert against carelessness towards nature and extrovert a feminine mark of tenderness, agressivity, indignation, elegance, refinement and sensuality.

She participated in the protest against the retention of Franz Krajcberg’s works in the port of Santos and was encouraged by him to strive on with her work.

Monica Carvalho was born in Rio de Janeiro, major in English, worked as a teacher, interpreter and translator. Nowadays she teaches arts as member of the Municipal School of the Rocinha slum.

2011

• Collaboration with pieces in “The Twilight Saga – Breaking Dawn” – 2011
• Fashion Business – Hands exhibition, curated by Cristina Franco – 2011

2010

• Fashion Week – O Globo press room along with Lia Siqueira – January 2010
• Work exhibited at the Design Curitiba Brazil Biennale – 2010
• Melissa editorial – Summer 2010
• Collaboration with costume designer Marcelo Pies for Aderbal Freire Filho’s production of Macbeth – 2010
• Shorlisted for the second Objeto Brasil award – Outubro 2010

2009

• Accessories development for 2009 summer colection OELTJENBRUNS MEN – NY
• Winner Sebrae Top 100 prize – 2009.
• Guest designer of Rio de Janeiro’s Goverment to Rio + Design – Milan– April 2009.
• Art direction of Erasmo Carlos’s CD – March 2009.
• Art direction of Super Bonita / GNT Tv Series – Summer 2009.
• Accessories development for Redley store fashion show / Fashion Rio – Winter 2009.

2008

• Judge for Universidade Veiga de Almeida Fashion graduates – December 2008.
• Speaker “New perspectives to Rio de Janeiro Crafts” – September 2008.
• Guest speaker for SEBRAE – Estácio de Sá University fashion week – July 2008.
• 2th Living with Annai and Surama tribe natives at Guiana Inglesa – April 2008.

2007

• Designer of the “Rendas do Amanhâ” project – Bananal-SP – 2007.
• Volunteer bijou teacher, NGO Ser Cidadão, supported by Gerdal and Mario Fleming Group – April 2007.
• Art director of Alternativa Saúde / GNT Tv Series – March – 2007.

2006

• Staging of “Aspectos de Ocasião” by da choreographer Andréa Bergallo – 2006.
• Guest speaker of SEBRAE – 1st Seminar of Brazilian and Fluminense Craft – Barra de São João – RJ – November 2006.
• Photographic essay by Murillo Meirelles and Cidade de Deus models / Tijuca Rainflorest – July 2006.
• Making of Murillo Meirelles photographic essay by Sergio Mello (DVD) – July 2006.
• Partnership with British designer Eskandar. New York, Paris, London, Saks – Dubai, Neiman Marcus, Berdof Goodman, Irene Versace – August 2006.

2005

• Practical crafts class to Bojari comunity, guest theacher – SEBRAE Acre – July 2005.
• SEBRAE Rio de Janeiro teacher for women at MUG (United Women of Guandu). Works with papier maché and natural seeds and fibers.
• Practical bijou class with seeds coordenated by Universidade Rural of RJ under supervision of Fátima Pinna teacher to Quilombo (Quilombola) community in Parati – May 2005.

2004/2003

• Practical crafts class to Grumari community – January to April 2004.
• Living with Annai e Surama tribe natives at Guiana Inglesa, guest of NGO Pró-Natura Inglesa – November 2003.
• Practical bijou class with seeds to Quilombo (Quilombola) community in Parati – September 2003.
• Crafts class to Alto da Boa Vista – RJ community – 2003.