Cláudia Moreira Salles

Brazilian designer Claudia Moreira Salles graduated in 1978 from the Escola Superior de Desenho Industrial in Rio de Janeiro. She began her career at the Instituto de Desenho Industrial of the Museum of Modern Art in Rio, working on furniture projects for public schools, and later moved to São Paulo to join the design team at Escriba, a furniture manufacturer.

From the outset, Claudia’s work has maintained a close relationship with artisanal techniques, especially those connected to woodworking. Her early pieces were commercialized by Nanni Movelaria in the 1980s, a pioneer in promoting independent designers. Later, she collaborated with Etel Carmona in reviving traditional cabinetmaking techniques, designing furniture with simple, rational lines while exploring the richness of native woods and the possibilities of working with them.

Over time, Claudia expanded her creative scope, designing furniture, objects, and lighting that explore new forms, functions, and combinations of materials. She has worked extensively with wood, while also incorporating concrete, stone, copper, and niobium into her pieces. This exploration results in a body of work that is both timeless and innovative, reflecting her commitment to material experimentation and artisanal excellence.

Claudia’s career includes participation in numerous group and solo exhibitions at institutions such as Museu da Casa Brasileira (São Paulo), MAM (São Paulo), Museu Oscar Niemeyer (Curitiba), and the Design Pavilion of the Culturas Brasileiras in São Paulo, as well as international shows in London and New York. Her creations merge artisanal skill, material experimentation, and a refined contemporary aesthetic, securing her place among Brazil’s most respected designers.

Meet the Collection by Cláudia Moreira Salles