RUBRUM RUG Sculpture

Estudio Ohxoja, founded by self-taught artists Catarina Cruz and Tiago Amaral, is a Portuguese textile art studio located in Costa da Caparica, along the Atlantic coast south of Lisbon. Positioned between the open sea and the cultural energy of the nearby capital, the studio develops work in dialogue with both landscape and contemporary artistic practice. Working primarily with wool through tufting techniques, they create high-relief textile compositions that challenge conventional notions of flatness. Cork and wood, materials deeply rooted in Portuguese culture, are incorporated not as frames but as extensions of each piece, adding texture, depth, and subtle narrative layers. Their practice explores contrasts: softness and structure, organic growth and imposed limits, permanence and fragility. The surrounding environment gently informs their forms while proximity to the city sustains engagement with broader artistic conversations. Positioned at the intersection of contemporary art and collectible design, Ohxoja elevates textile into sculptural presence. Rather than offering fixed answers, their works invite reflection, encouraging viewers to consider nature, boundaries, resilience, and human intervention. In the world of Studio Ohxoja, to create is also to care: a celebration of life’s regenerative power, shaped in wool, texture, and time.