Born and residing on the island of Terceira,
the artisan João Drumonde Ornelas transforms nature into a creative and
contemporary approach. In his work, he explores dried plants and flowers, which
gain new life in the form of designer jewellery, fashion accessories, and
installations applied to canvases and three-dimensional supports.

The Azores in a Box store, at Portas
do Mar, will host an exhibition of works by João Drumonde Ornelas from July 8
to August 28, 2026. It can be visited from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 19:00
for those who wish to appreciate the artisan's various works and verify the
pieces and techniques he uses, namely, the basis of his rich chromatic palette
which is based on two main species: "Everlasting Flower" and
"Statice".

The great difference in his process
is the total absence of chemicals in cultivation and drying; after dehydration,
the flowers preserve their textures and colors entirely naturally. Through
synergies with other creators, his jewellery line was born, standing out for
its originality: João Ornelas deconstructs the norm of keeping the flower
intact, preferring to isolate petals, branches, seeds, and even unexpected
elements such as garlic peels or red onion.