Maria Avillez

Maria Avillez's creative journey began in graphic design and advertising, but it was in jewellery that she found her passion.

She graduated from the Contacto Directo school in Lisbon, where she received a prize in the Young Creators Contest for the piece “Bolso Comunicativo”, a lapel pin in acrylic trimmed with silver. She went on to complete her training with several courses specialising in jewellery techniques from design to setting, which allowed her to understand production processes and bring greater versatility to the creation of her pieces.

In 2007, she opened her shop-atelier in her own name as a showcase for her collections, as well as an essential point of contact with her audience.

The brand has also been present in some of the most prestigious international fairs, such as Bijorhca (Paris), Inhorgenta (Germany) and PortoJóia (Portugal), as well as at various events organised by the Contacto Direto school. She also participated in the “Espiritu Casual” Exhibition at the Jewellery School in Vigo. Maria's pieces have been published in various media in the national and international press, and she was invited to be featured in the book “New Rings: 500+ Designs from Around the World”, a Thames & Hudson (2011) publication.

Maria Avillez is also part of the group of Portuguese jewellers that were invited to design exclusive jewellery for the MAAT - Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, inspired by the museum's architecture. In addition to participating in the Portuguese Jewellery x MAAT initiative, Maria Avillez Jewellery has a permanent residence in the museum.