A family story,
shaped in clay.
Porto Clara began in 1985 in Sernancelhe, Portugal, with a small ceramic workshop, an oven, and a shared belief in the expressive possibilities of clay.
What began with handcrafted custom tiles has grown into Porto Clara: furniture, ceramic surfaces and custom pieces designed for contemporary spaces.
The beginning was personal.
Both were teachers and artists, with practices that moved between oil painting and ceramic artwork. Their approach to ceramics was never purely decorative. It was a way of exploring colour, texture, form, and the relationship between a handmade object and the spaces people inhabit.
Each tile has been made by hand for a specific space, shaped around the client’s ideas, the material and the character of the architecture.
Three artists. One shared vision.
Clara Vasconcelos
With studies in Porto and a background in artistic education, João Pedro combined an understanding of form with a deep connection to Portuguese craftsmanship. His vision extended beyond the tile itself: towards ceramics as part of the wider built environment.
João Pedro Mateus
With studies in Porto and a background in artistic education, João Pedro combined an understanding of form with a deep connection to Portuguese craftsmanship. His vision extended beyond the tile itself: towards ceramics as part of the wider built environment.
José Pedro de Vasconcelos
An artist and teacher, José Pedro brought a sensitivity to composition, colour, and the handmade process. His work helped establish the artistic foundation of the workshop and the expressive character that remains central to Porto Clara today.
A name that carries its origin.
Porto Clara brings together two defining parts of the brand’s story: Porto, the city where João Pedro studied and developed his artistic perspective, and Clara, whose family home in Sernancelhe became the first setting for the workshop.
The name reflects a meeting of place, family and creative ambition. It is a reminder that every Porto Clara piece begins with a personal connection to material and making.
Ceramics, brought into everyday life.
Ceramics have always been at the heart of our work, but the ambition was never limited to the wall. João Pedro’s father was a carpenter, and this family connection naturally introduced a dialogue between ceramic surfaces, wood, and furniture-making.
Over time, this became part of Porto Clara’s direction: creating furniture, architectural surfaces, and custom pieces in which handcrafted ceramics are integral to the design. Each piece reflects the meeting of material knowledge, contemporary form, and the craft developed since 1985.
Made in Portugal. Designed for considered spaces.
Porto Clara creates furniture and ceramic surfaces for considered interiors, grounded in craftsmanship, natural materials and timeless design.