The Curated Lisbon | interview
Emilia Brandão Carneiro (São Paulo, 1982) is a Brazilian photographer based in Portugal whose work explores identity, divinity and psychology through intimate portraits and autobiographical narratives. Working with both digital and analogue medium format photography, she draws inspiration from Pictorialism and Surrealism, developing a visual language rooted in introspection and emotional depth. Over more than twenty years, her practice has unfolded into sensitive, personal stories that reflect her own journey of healing and self-reflection.
A Leica ambassador since 2020, Brandão has had her work published in Vogue, ARTnews, ELLE, El Mundo and Marie Claire, and has collaborated with Vogue, GQ, Elle and Glamour. She holds a degree in Film from FAAP (São Paulo) and a Master’s in Photography from EFTI (Madrid).
Her most recent solo exhibitions include Acervo Migratório (São Paulo, 2025), Sentimental Journey (Madrid, 2022) and Time to Heal (Madrid and Logroño, 2020–2021). She has taken part in international festivals such as the British Journal of Photography’s Open Walls in Arles (2023) and the Barcelona Foto Biennale (2022), and received the Open Walls Arles Award 2023. Her work has been exhibited in Brazil, Spain, Germany, France and Portugal, and is held in several private collections.
How do the themes of healing and self-exploration manifest in your photographic process?
I see life as a continuous journey of learning… My whole philosophy of life is based on the idea that we are here, in this existence, to learn. The lessons lie in everyday challenges and experiences, but it is up to us to perceive them, to look within and to have the courage to learn from them. So, for me, the themes are the stories that unfold in my personal life, the signs my intuition picks up and decides to look at more closely. Photography helps me observe life in this way — more attentively and closer to the lessons it offers.
Your images often have a strong feminine aura — what role does feminine energy play in your creative vision?
I believe we all carry both masculine and feminine energies, and when I allowed my feminine energy to have a stronger voice in my life, my artistic work began to flow more intuitively, coming from an introspective place and allowing for more contemplative moments. I felt more connected to myself and to nature, and more open to the mysteries and miracles of life. That is how I understand the role of my feminine energy in creation.
Where do your emotional or spiritual inspirations come from when creating new work?
It is simply the air I breathe, my way of being, the engine that guides me through the experience of the world. I am deeply sensitive to energy, emotions and atmospheres, and this sensitivity naturally shapes my creative process. Perhaps it has to do with being Brazilian, living connected to the heart and soul… All I know is that I couldn’t create any other way — it wouldn’t be authentic.
What would your ideal day dedicated to art and culture in Lisbon look like?
It would include libraries, galleries and museums.
What new ideas or series are you developing at the moment, and what emotions are guiding this process?
My next project will be presented in Paris for the first time at the beginning of November. I spent five years developing it, and now it is finally complete. It is a series of self-portraits exploring my connection with nature — my first encounter with the energy many call Mother Earth. Throughout this process, I discovered how deeply healing this connection can be. The project became a dialogue between my body and the natural world, between stillness and transformation.
https://thecuratedlisbon.com/InterviewsStories/emilia-brando-carneiro