Life & Work with Thais Mendonça of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Thais Mendonça.

Hi Thais , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a designer with over a decade of experience in costume creation, textile prints, and surface pattern design, I specialize in bringing vivid, story-driven visuals to life for brands, galleries, and theatrical productions. My work bridges artistry and commercial appeal, creating designs that resonate emotionally while meeting production and market requirements.

✨ My name is Thaís Mendonça, and I am a Brazilian artist, textile and print designer with over a decade of experience in the fashion and textile industries. I am currently based in Los Angeles, California studyng Costume Design and bring a unique multicultural perspective shaped by my professional journey through Brazil, Europe, and the United States.

Notably, I was honored to design the official print and embroidery for the Portuguese Olympic Committee for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

In my career, I have:

Designed 500+ print and textile collections, with many designs commercially produced and distributed globally.

Collaborated with galleries and brands to produce exhibition-worthy and market-ready designs that increased engagement and sales.

Delivered cohesive visual identities from initial concept sketches to final production, ensuring brand consistency and consumer impact.

📎 https://br.pinterest.com/thaonca/
📸 Instagram: @thaonca https://www.instagram.com/thaonca/
📌 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaonca/

Art has been the language through which I’ve understood the world since I was a child. Growing up in Brazil, I learned early how creativity could be both a refuge and a bridge — a way to connect deeply with others, even without words. My educational journey has always been guided by the belief that art is more than beauty; it is a tool for storytelling, empathy, and transformation.

Today, I am pursuing my studies in Costume Design in Los Angeles, with the goal of expanding my skills beyond traditional fine arts to create immersive visual experiences that merge illustration, textiles, and design. This academic path is not only a personal dream but also a way to open new professional doors in the global creative industry. My vision is to build a career that blends cultural heritage, sustainability, and human connection — producing art that resonates across borders and generations.

The road here has not been without challenges. Leaving my home country meant starting from scratch — adapting to a new culture, language, and educational system, while also managing the high cost of international tuition. As an artist, financial stability can be unpredictable, and studying full-time has limited my ability to work in the U.S. I’ve often had to balance my studies with freelance commissions, using every spare hour to sustain both my education and my art practice.

Receiving this scholarship would be transformative. It would not only ease the financial burden but also allow me to dedicate more focus to my studies and creative research. It would mean being able to experiment, take on collaborative projects. Ultimately, my goal is to use this education to create meaningful, large-scale works — from murals to textile collections — that celebrate diversity, preserve cultural narratives, and inspire others to see art as a vital, living language.

My art is born from listening to the invisible — emotions, dreams, and intuition. I work with watercolor, embroidery, and collage, weaving delicate compositions from memories, subtle symbols, and the poetry of everyday life, often inspired by the sacred feminine.

I see art as an act of healing and connection. Every brushstroke or thread is a quiet conversation with the inner world — an attempt to translate what words can’t hold.

✨ “Art is what anchors me and aligns me with who I am.”

Last exhibitions:

2023 – Vaago Studio – Lamego _ Portugal – Originals, Scarves and Prints “Vale do Douro”

2024 – Ajogar Éque A Gente Se Entende – Vila do Conde – Portugal – “Recortes de Janelas” – A4 _ Originals

2024 – Odara – Porto – Portugal – “Recortes de Janelas” – A3

2025 – Hive Gallery and Studios – Los Angeles – EUA – “I love LA” – 12’’ – Watercolor

2025 – “Echo in the Garden” Exhibition – ECHO PARK ART GALLERY – Los Angeles

2025- DTLA Art Day – Emerging GAllery – Los Angeles – Amazonia (Aug 2025)

Warm regards,

Thaís Mendonça

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Moving from Brazil to the United States meant starting over completely — leaving behind my support system, my career momentum, and the familiarity of my culture. As an immigrant, everything feels like a new language, not only in words but in daily life: building community, understanding how to study here, and finding ways to keep my art alive while navigating the realities of student status.

There have been moments of uncertainty — financially, emotionally, and professionally. Studying as an international student comes with limitations on work, which makes it hard to sustain both life and education in Los Angeles, one of the most expensive cities in the world. At the same time, being an artist adds another layer of challenge, since the creative path is rarely straightforward.

But these struggles have shaped me in powerful ways. They’ve pushed me to be resourceful, to create opportunities where none seemed possible, and to use art as a way to build bridges with others. My goal is not only to improve as a person and as an artist, but also to give back — to create projects that bring people together, celebrate cultural diversity, and show that art can be a source of healing and connection in the community.

Every challenge has reminded me why I chose this path: because even when the road is hard, the purpose behind it feels bigger than myself.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a visual artist and designer, and my work moves between illustration, textiles, and costume design. I specialize in creating pieces that are both delicate and meaningful — from acrylic, guaches and watercolor paintings and print design to embroidery and handcrafted detailslike crochet, embroidery. What connects everything I do is the storytelling: my art is always about memory, affection, and the beauty of small, poetic moments.

One of the projects I’m most proud of was when my embroidery work was featured in the Olympics in Brazil. To see something so personal and handmade carried onto a stage that represents global connection was deeply special. It proved to me that even traditional techniques like embroidery can have a contemporary voice and reach audiences worldwide.

What sets me apart is my ability to blend fine art sensitivity with design application. I don’t just create pieces to be admired — I imagine how they live in the world, whether on a wall, a garment, or an everyday object. I bring together my Brazilian roots, my experience now in Los Angeles, and my commitment to craftsmanship to make art that feels both intimate and universal.

Above all, I’m proud of the way my work inspires connection. Whether it’s through a painting, an embroidery, or a collaborative project, my goal is always to create something that touches people and makes them feel seen.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice for anyone just starting out is simple: keep going. There will be moments when things feel uncertain, but consistency really makes the difference. Something I wish I knew earlier is the importance of always keeping some money aside — it gives you freedom, options, and peace of mind when opportunities or challenges come up. And of course, practice as much as you can. The more you create, the more your work speaks for itself.

Pricing:

• https://thaonca.etsy.com/listing/4330644016
• Prints 20$
• Origianals | Murals 65$ – 1500$

Contact Info:

• Website: https://br.pinterest.com/thaonca/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thaonca/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thaonca/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thaonca

Image Credits
All took by me @thaonca