Life & Work with Xana Ramos of Redondo Beach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Xana Ramos.

Hi Xana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Portugal, where I developed my artistic identity within a culture rich in history, craftsmanship, and emotional depth. Growing up in a large, creative family surrounded me with artistic expression from an early age, and this influence continues to inspire me today.

Before moving to the United States, I founded and ran a creative education space in Portugal that combined my background in education with my artistic practice. The project embraced a “learn through play” philosophy and offered workshops, classes, camps, handmade markets, and community events for children, families, seniors, and the broader public. After two flourishing years and strong community engagement, I felt called to evolve personally and professionally, which led me to relocate.

Since arriving in the U.S. at the end of 2017, I have continued my studies at the International American University and El Camino College, focusing on Business Administration, Fine Arts, Jewelry, and Studio Arts. During this time, I established my brand, Xana Ramos Art, and transitioned from educator to multidisciplinary artist, creating original jewelry, paintings, and mixed-media works.

My practice draws inspiration from the visual and material traditions of my heritage, my deep connection to nature, and a personal spiritual awakening. Through vibrant colors, organic movement, and contemporary reinterpretations of Portuguese elements, such as azulejo patterns and natural materials like cork, I explore themes of nature, memory, identity, and spiritual connection.

At the heart of my work lies saudade, the uniquely Portuguese sense of longing and poetic nostalgia paired with awareness and presence. Together, these elements infuse each piece with emotional resonance and invite viewers into a space of reflection, beauty, and connection.

I am deeply grateful for the journey that has guided me to this moment, where I feel a sense of harmony and alignment with my soul’s essence. It feels as though I have remembered my purpose on this planet, and I am devoted to continuing to elevate my frequency, share my gifts, and contribute to the expansion of consciousness within my community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t describe my journey as smooth, but I’ve always tried to meet challenges with a constructive and positive mindset. When something difficult happens, my instinct is to ask what I can learn and how to move forward. I don’t linger on problems longer than necessary. I focus on solutions, even when they require time and emotional strength.

One of the biggest transitions came when I moved to the United States as a single mother with two young children. We were adjusting to everything at once: housing, language, school, and a new culture, while I was also pursuing my education. Without a car, commuting from Manhattan Beach to IAU in Koreatown for classes often took nearly two hours each way, which was exhausting, but I stayed focused on building a future for us.

Over time, things improved. I found stable housing, bought a car, and transferred to El Camino College in Torrance, where I could finally focus on the arts. Some challenges, however, were more personal. My daughter struggled to adapt to life in the U.S., and out of love for her happiness and well-being, I supported her return to Portugal to live with my mom in Pinhal Novo. Letting her go was incredibly hard, and soon after, the pandemic made the distance feel even greater.

Yet that same period opened an unexpected door. With classes paused, I began painting simply for joy. I quickly discovered how deeply I loved it, and my first accepted piece was shown at the Manhattan Beach Art Center in 2020. From then on, I haven’t stopped creating, leading me to found my own art brand, Xana Ramos Art, in 2021.
My son remained with me for several more years before choosing to also return to Portugal as he stepped into adulthood, a bittersweet but proud moment.

As for my own future, I try not to predict too far ahead. I focus on living with intention in the present and trusting that wherever I am, I’m there for a reason. Experience has taught me that even the hardest challenges can open the door to something meaningful. And I trust the Universe always conspires for my highest good.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work is rooted in curiosity and a love of transformation. I move between jewelry and visual art, working with everything from silver, copper, and brass to cork, clay, resin, and found natural materials. I’ve never felt tied to one medium; each idea seems to ask for its own language, and I enjoy listening to that.
In my acrylic paintings and mixed media pieces, I like to create moments of discovery. Some works include hidden elements that only appear under dark light, others are interactive and spin, light up, glow, or mimic unexpected surfaces like tiles, stained glass, or even brick. I love it when a piece invites someone to step closer and look again; it turns viewing into an experience rather than just observation.

Transformation is a big part of my process. I’m drawn to recycling and repurposing materials, giving forgotten objects a new story. One of my favorite examples was turning an old ship wheel into a layered sculptural artwork, using resin, ink, and spray foam texture to evoke an imagined world in the deep sea. Pieces like that feel less like making something totally new and more like revealing what was already waiting to emerge.

Even though I work across many materials, my inspirations remain constant: nature, spirituality, fantasy, and the quiet influence of my Portuguese roots. I’m drawn to bold color, organic movement, and forms that live somewhere between the representational and the dreamlike. I invite my viewers to be present and observe the beauty that surrounds us, to be conscious and aware of our true essence as souls, and to be transported to an enchanted reality.

I have been fortunate to encounter a wonderful artist local community that has made me feel welcome and provided many opportunities to display and sell my art. They’ve also offered me chances to learn and teach artistic skills. From these artist groups, I have gained numerous new friends who have supported me both professionally and personally, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.

I am a proud member of the South Bay Artist Collective, which supports artists and the non-profit Indivisible Arts based at Resin Gallery in Hermosa Beach. I’m also connected to the Artist Open Group, affiliated with the Palos Verdes Art Center, and more recently, the Redondo Beach Artist Group. Each of these organizations has been an excellent resource for my growth as an artist, and I love volunteering, collaborating, and exhibiting alongside them!

What sets my work apart, I think, is that it is guided as much by intuition as by technique. I create because I have a deep need to express myself, driven by joy, curiosity, and a desire to explore. Experimenting with various media is integral to my artistic style, reflecting my curious, imaginative personality. I often think about how my eight-year-old self would be amazed that this is the path we get to pursue now, and honestly, that sense of wonder continues to be my greatest motivation

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Growing up in the 80s, without the internet or social media, was truly a gift. Some of my fondest memories are of playing outdoors with my siblings and cousins at our frequent family gatherings and summer camping trips. From a young age, I loved to play pretend, making “soup” out of leaves and mud for my baby dolls or the kids I was playing with. As I grew older, I enjoyed simple games like hopscotch, elastic, marbles, and hide-and-seek. These activities were fantastic as they encouraged socialization, creativity, and physical activity.

I was, and still am, with people I feel comfortable with, as social as a butterfly fluttering. But I also loved playing by myself, collecting little treasures like shells, rocks, and flowers, or organizing my collections of stickers, cute erasers, and scented mini notebooks. I was always fascinated by my mom’s artistic talent and aspired to be as creative as she was. I also loved the fun costumes she would design for us to wear on Carnaval. One of my favorite costumes was a fairy princess outfit: a light blue dress and a cone-shaped hat with a veil. The most enchanting part was when she used mini star-shaped glitter on my cheeks; it made me feel special and magical, which is a fond, whimsical memory.

However, the childhood memory I cherish the most is about my favorite dress from when I was around 5 or 6 years old, which I wore until it no longer fit. It was a beautiful red crochet sleeveless top paired with a white skirt adorned with small red flowers. The skirt had a ruffled layer at the bottom. I loved twirling in that dress and watching the ruffles flow like a carousel; it was such a fun and freeing experience! I wish I had saved that dress, but I’m grateful for the vivid memories I have of it, as well as some old pictures of me wearing it.

Pricing:

• Commissioned Works: Acrylic Paintings on unframed canvas.General price by size: 8×10 $250 ; 9×12 $350 ; 18×24 $800 ;24×30 $1100 ;30×40 $1300.
• For mixed media artworks or jewelry commissions, please specify the vision, size, and materials, as they can be very diverse, and prices have to be studied on a case-by-case basis.
• Art Services: Children’s Jewelry or paint party (2hours)$250 ( 6 children) $35 per extra child
• Arts & Crafts party/class( 6 children) $190 . $28 per extra child. (1:30h)
• Adult Paint Party (6 Pax) $340. $55 per extra adult

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.xanaramosart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xanaramosart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xanaramosart/