Sónia Mendez was born in Venezuela in 1961, the daughter of Portuguese parents. She came to Portugal at the age of 8 and settled in the outskirts of Loulé, where she had her first contacts with the art of palm, by the hand of her maternal grandmother. She liked to accompany her to the meetings they held at the neighbors’ houses to work on the contract. Children were not allowed to participate, but whenever they could, they “stole” some clapping to experiment and imitate adults.
He grew up in a family where everyone worked with their hands. His mother, a seamstress by profession, tried to get him to follow in her footsteps, but that was not her vocation — her love for the palm spoke louder. From an early age she showed herself to be creative and curious, with a taste for working manually. Throughout his life he experimented with various techniques and materials, such as painting on ceramics and tiles, works in clay and glass, lace, embroidery, sculpture and wood.
For eight years he taught recurrent school students, where he discovered the pleasure of teaching and sharing his knowledge.
A versatile artisan with a passion for challenges, Sónia Mendez has received several awards at national level.
In 2019 he conceived and coordinated the construction of a nativity scene in almost real scale, a unique piece that involved about 500 hours of work and the collaboration of 15 artisans, representing the different techniques of palm working.
She is one of the most versatile artisans at Casa da Empreita, mastering various techniques and using both the needle and the sewing machine to finish her pieces. Creative, persistent and innovative, she says with conviction: “When life doesn’t challenge me, I challenge myself.”
She is one of the most versatile artisans at Casa da Empreita, mastering various techniques and using both the needle and the sewing machine to finish her pieces. Creative, persistent and innovative, she says with conviction: “When life doesn’t challenge me, I challenge myself.”
