Ratinho is an artist of the new generation from Alto do Moura. From childhood, he developed a passion for papier-mâché carnival masks, particularly for the character of La Ursa. As an adult, he moved to São Paulo, where he worked for two years in a metallurgical factory, then as a dispatcher alongside his father at the Detran (Department of Transport). It was only after his father’s death that he devoted himself fully to clay sculpture.
Today, he says: “I cannot go a day without working. Clay is my life.” Strongly influenced by the artistic environment of Alto do Moura and by artists such as Manoel Galdino, Ratinho combines in his works local traditions—carnival, cordel literature—with references to global popular culture, fantasy, and science fiction. His creations reflect his taste for adventure and creativity, while conveying universal messages, thus embodying the richness and diversity of contemporary creation.