Margarette Mattos
b. Vitória, Espírito Santo
Born in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Mattos began her career in the early 1990s, when she was invited to take part in an art project run by the Federal University of Espírito Santo.
“The fascination with the colours and textures of the raw iron ore extracted in Itabira and the Serra dos Carajás region of Brazil is the inspiration for my work,” she explains.
Mattos explores the richness of this mineral by combining it with acrylic paint, creating abstract images on canvas. The use of iron ore began while she was researching Vitória, her home city, visually and architecturally, watching the coming and going of ore ships in the local port.
Two decades of research have refined her technique, incorporating ore particles into the paintings without losing the essence of the mineral. Using steel-oxide pigments, varnishes, waxes, powder, gold, copper, acrylic and vinyl resins, her works come alive with texture and luminous hues.
Artist biographies are translated from the collection's Portuguese records.
