Renda I Sculpture

Born in 1964 in Alcobaça, Portugal, Manuela Castro Martins spent her childhood in the Douro region. In 1979 she moved to Oporto, where she graduated in Law. She worked as a lawyer for several years. At the same time she started working with molten glass producing several pieces for decorative purposes. In 2001 she opted for a career as a molten glass artist. Since then she has created various works for the most diverse and prestigious insignias, notably in the hospitality industry. In 2003 she designed and produced the trophy awarded for participation in the 5th Lacoste Congress, which took place in Évora. Also in that year she participated in the "Atypical - Contemporary objects" (Atypical, Contemporary objects) Exhibition, held in the Convent of St. Francis as part of the Coimbra, National Capital of Culture, events. She designed and produced the trophy for participation in "FITEI - Festival International de Teatro de Expressão Ibérica" (International Festival of Iberian Expressionist Theatre), which took place in Oporto, in 2006, and, in 2009, the trophy for the International Concert Cycle "Oporto, city of Organs". She has also created works for several hotels, such as: Hotel Caesar Park, in Sintra; Hotel Ritz Four Seasons, in Lisbon; Vila Sol - Spa and Golf Resort, in Vilamoura; Reid's Palace Hotel, in Funchal, Madeira; and Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues, in Genéve, Switzerland. Participates in the exhibition "Objects of Author", in Corrente D'Art Gallery, in Lisbon in October 2013. Designs and implements the Trophy for participation in Matiné Pensante Conference, held in Brussels in November 2013. Finalist at Emerge 2014, Bullseye's eighth biennial kiln-glass exhibition for emerging artists, in Portland, USA.