LIGIA SATO               

BIO

Ligia Sato is an artist and educator whose work explores the urban environment through photography and performance art. Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil—one of the most populous cities in the world—she developed a deep interest in public and urban spaces, investigating how these environments shape our perceptions and behaviors. She holds a degree in Design from the School of Architecture and Urbanism at the University of São Paulo (FAU USP) and a photography degree from SENAC. Currently, she is a Master of Fine Arts candidate at the University at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA), where she also teaches photography. Since 2017, she has participated in exhibitions in galleries, art institutions, and academic venues in both Brazil and the United States, including being a finalist in Latin America’s largest university art contest.

ARTIST STATEMENT
I am a São Paulo-born artist interested in exploring the urban environment through lens-based media work. Growing up in one of the most populous cities in the world motivated me to consider how built structures and transportation systems shape our everyday lives. When driving is the only option or transit consumes a significant portion of the day, our connection to our surroundings is compromised, leaving us feeling detached from the place we inhabit. In that context, I saw the importance of walking as a way to foster a deeper connection to the city.
My work invites viewers to reflect on how urban structures influence their daily emotions and behaviors, and encourages them to observe their daily commute with greater attentiveness. Using geometric and abstract visual language, 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. 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.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 

One and two-person exhibitions

2025 (upcoming)

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

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

Online, Brazil

Online group exhibition by Via Cultural Institute.

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

Public art intervention exhibition in São Paulocity.

São Paulo, SP,Brazil

2018

Nascente Program

São Paulo, SP,Brazil

Selected for the Nascente Program Contest art exhibition, andfinalist in

the Visual Arts category.

2017

Senac School

São Paulo, SP,Brazil

2017

Tatuapé subway station

São Paulo, SP,Brazil

WORKS [ Selection ]

All the works can be purchased here