Francisco Graciano

Francisco Graciano Cardoso is the son of the sculptor Manuel Graciano Cardoso. Born in Juazeiro do Norte, Francisco lives since his childhood in the rural zone of Missão Velha, a neighbour town. When his family moved to Juazeiro, Francisco ran away from home and back to Missão Velha.

With the years, marriage and kids, Francisco started seeing in art the possibility of improving his living conditions, as did his father. His work shows his preference for elements connected to nature, with animals occupying a prominent place in his creations and bright colours adding to the fantastic universe of his pieces. Alone – only with his dogs – in the peace and quiet of his ranch, Francisco gives birth to his imagination, searching in animals the wood formats that he transforms into sculptures. Today he lives of his art, but it was a tough way there.

He worked in farms and quarries. His father thought that sending his kids to school was a waste of time as “no one can eat studies”. Manuel Graciano is a renowned sculptor and Francisco, although he started his journey following his father’s steps, soon found his own language through art. He not only sculpts in wood, but he also paints the same thematic of animals and the Sertão (inlands in Northeast Brazil).