I am a São Paulo-born artist interested in investigating the urban environment through lens-based media and performance work. Growing up in a densely packed city, with a heavily trafficked avenue as my front yard, made it clear to me from a very young age that one’s immediate environment has a profound impact on both physical and mental well-being.
The core motivation behind my practice is the belief that we are not separate from the environment we inhabit – we are one whole with space. Underneath the imagery of my work is the deep desire for people to return to observing and connecting to their surroundings. It is a desire to remember what we once knew: that there is a connection, that there is a mutual influence between place and human existence. In an urban environment, this disconnection is further compromised. Architecture and urban-built structures promote order and control of bodies, imposing a disconnection, an alienation in relation to the place we inhabit.
Using geometric and abstract photography, I capture the details of urban and architectural landscapes as a way to show observations that would only be possible if walking in an attentive manner, inviting viewers to observe their daily commute with greater attentiveness. In addition, I use performances, videos, and photographs to respond to structures that are not pedestrian-friendly. These works reflect on the pedestrian’s experience in relation to urban structures that either exclude or fail to accommodate them. Together, my work examines the relationship between the body and the urban environment.
One and two-person exhibitions
2025
Dôme Art Advisory. Buffalo, NY, USA.
Ligia Sato, Walking Abstractions.
2025
Niagara Arts and Cultural Center. Niagara Falls, NY, USA.
Ligia Sato, Wanderer Phenomenon.
2023
Project Space. Buffalo, NY, USA.
Ligia Sato and Misael Hernandez, Clashing Fragments.
Group exhibitions
2025 (upcoming)
54° Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Piracicaba. Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
2025 (upcoming)
Amy’s Place. Buffalo, NY, USA.
2025
De 100 a 1000; Galeria TATO. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
2025
Chasing Shadows, Finding Light; Haze Gallery. Online, Germany.
2024
Placeholder; Anderson Gallery. Buffalo, NY, USA.
2023
Incoming MFA Showcase; Project Space. Buffalo, NY, USA.
2022
Limiares Utópicos; ExpoFAUD. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
2020
Utopia SP; Instituto Via Cultural. Online, Brazil.
2019
Linguagens Contemporâneas; ArtLab Gallery. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
2019
Além do Olhar; ArtLab Gallery. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
2019
Meio Atelier. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
2019
Consolação Literary Passage. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Public art intervention exhibition in São Paulo city.
2018
Programa Nascente. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Selected for the Programa Nascente Contest art exhibition, and finalist in the Visual Arts category.
2017
Tatuapé subway station. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
2017
Senac Tatuapé. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Screenings
2025 (upcoming)
54° Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Piracicaba. Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
Contraposed Body.
2025
Niagara Arts and Cultural Center. Niagara Falls, NY, USA.
Contraposed Body.
2022
Limiares Utópicos; ExpoFAUD. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Cidade Sentida: Sinfonia Urbana.
Achievements and awards
2025
Curated Artist Registry
White Columns. New York, NY, USA.
2025
Prêmio Especial Leitura Pública e Análise de Portfólio
54° Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Piracicaba.
Pinacoteca Municipal Miguel Dutra. Piracicaba, SP, Brazil.
Special Award for Public Reading and Portfolio Analysis.
2025
Thesis nominated for Student Academic Excellence
University at Buffalo (SUNY). Buffalo, NY, USA.
2025
College Ambassador Award
University at Buffalo (SUNY). Buffalo, NY, USA.
2018
Programa Nascente
University of São Paulo (USP). São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Finalist in the Visual Arts category of the largest Brazil’s University art contest.
Publications
2025 (approved; to be published)
dossiê AQUI: revista Das Questões
Grupo Vaga-Mundo: poéticas nômades (CNPq/UnB); academic publication.
University of Brasília. Brasília, DF, Brasil.
2025
Pitstop
Academic Publication. University at Buffalo (SUNY). Buffalo, NY, USA.
Two photographs selected for the visual essay “Reinhabit the Imagining, Reimagine the Inhabiting,”curated by Arthur Rozestraten, for the ANPARQ (National Association for Research and GraduateStudies in Architecture) Thésis magazine v. 6 n. 12.
Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Scholarships
2024 and 2025
Frances R. and Louis B. Morrison Memorial Scholarship Fund. University at Buffalo (SUNY). Buffalo, NY, USA.
2023 - 2025
Teaching Assistanship. University at Buffalo (SUNY). Buffalo, NY, USA.
Education
2023 - 2025
MFA in Studio Art
University at Buffalo (SUNY). Buffalo, NY, USA.
2017 - 2022
BA in Design
University of São Paulo (USP). São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
2016 - 2018
Diploma in Photography
Senac School. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Research experience
2023 - 2025
Master thesis: “Wanderer Phenomenon”
University at Buffalo (SUNY). Buffalo, NY, USA.
_ Investigating the relationship of the pedestrian body in urban environments through a phenomenological lens.
_ Solo exhibition encompassing photographs, videos, installations, and performances.
2020 - 2021
Undergraduate thesis: “Cidade Sentida: Sinfonia Urbana”
University of São Paulo (USP). São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
_ Created, shot, and edited a short film about São Paulo different types of daily occupations and political decisions at Paulista Avenue.
_ Wrote a thesis about essay films and contemporary urban issues, with a focus on Paulista Avenue and its different daily occupations.
2020
Undergraduate research project: “Maps-movements: narratives of urban displacement through [other] functionings of cartographic systems”
University of São Paulo (USP). São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
_ A collaboration for Professor Gabriel T. Ramos’ doctoral research.
_ Created and edited a short film using Google Street View images.
_ Wrote, alongside Professor Gabriel T. Ramos, the short film script.