Dana,artist in a blue dress ,smiling,with white gold necklace and seahorse pendant,touching a large scale wall artwork,made of Mussel seashells and gold fishing net.

Explore the Story and Soul Behind Dana Shell’s Art

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Smiling woman with long gray hair wearing a sleeveless top standing next to an abstract wall art piece, made of blue and white Mussel seashells.

Meet Dana

Born in 1975 in a Romanian city by the Black Sea, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the sea. That bond has shaped my life’s journey—from working aboard cruise ships that took me around the world, to finally settling in the Algarve, Portugal, where I live since . Before that, I spent several years living in Italy and Switzerland.Living abroad shaped me by opening my mind, deepening my empathy, and inspiring a more curious, resilient version of myself.

Why shells? Looking back, the sea has always been part of me. Its timeless beauty, raw power, and ever-changing forms mirror what I seek in my art—balance between order and chaos, simplicity and complexity.

A former primary school teacher and a self-taught artist, I began exploring my artistic side during the pandemic—a time of uncertainty that awakened my creative resilience. Art kept me grounded, and what started as a personal refuge has evolved into a lifelong adventure.

I embrace mixed media because it offers me the freedom to experiment—blending techniques, textures and emotions—often with my favorite music or a good podcast playing in the background. My work is intuitive and layered, shaped by curiosity, emotion and the natural elegance of the shells I use.

One of my earliest supporters and first true critic, Professor JF Carrujo of the Lagoa Art School, helped launch my art publicly through my first exhibition. His encouragement remains a meaningful part of my artistic journey.

Art, for me, is more than expression—it’s how I connect with people and nature, reflect on my journey and surroundings, and continue to evolve as a person.

Art is my Adventure

Dana as child fishing with her grandfather,by the Black Sea and Danube

My creative practice blends the sculptural language of art, the purpose of design and the tactile beauty of making. Working with recycled shells, I create contemporary wall sculptures that connect emotion with form and nature with space.

Rooted in personal memories and guided by sustainable values, each piece reflects my vision—and serves as a personal legacy, transformed into lasting expressions of beauty, presence, and meaning.

Where Nature and Craftsmanship Become Art

The Process & Philosophy

Not every piece begins the same—some are sketched, others are sensed.

For larger or more detailed works, I often draw first, building a guiding structure. But just as often, I begin with the shells themselves—arranging, shifting and listening until a natural rhythm takes shape.

Texture, flow and contrast are at the heart of everything I create. I select each shell for its character—frequently choosing the imperfect, broken or weathered ones. These fragments carry stories of time and resilience. No two shells are ever alike and neither are my pieces.

Every composition is slow-built and intuitive. Some evolve like a puzzle; others come together in waves.

I create for those who find meaning in materials shaped by nature. My art is made for spaces that embrace texture, emotion and detail—for homes that celebrate quiet strength and layered stories.

Whether you’re commissioning a bespoke piece or choosing from a curated series, the experience is thoughtful and personal—from the first idea to the final placement.

I warmly welcome thoughtful collaborations with interior designers, galleries, stylists and sustainable brands—those who value natural materials, slow art and meaningful storytelling.

Sustainability & Intention

Every shell I use is ethically sourced—natural, recycled and left in its original form and color. Their textures, edges and imperfections tell stories shaped by time and sea—and I honor that.

I mainly work with Portuguese shells, getting many from local restaurants, markets and coastal communities. Some come from people who’ve collected them over the years, while others are carefully purchased from trusted suppliers abroad—especially when a specific design calls for something unique.

And I can’t forget my best friends: the fishermen. They don’t provide live shells—instead, I collect those that naturally come up in their nets as part of their daily work. These shells and corals are often discarded as waste, but I give them new life through art. It’s a way of supporting the coastal economy while staying true to sustainable values.

Sustainability isn’t an added feature in my practice—it’s the foundation.

I create with intention and responsibility, honoring the natural world that gives me my materials. This means working slowly, choosing consciously and making with care.

From the very first shell to the final backing, every element is selected for its quality, durability and environmental impact. My goal is not only to create something beautiful, but to ensure it lasts—physically, emotionally and ethically.

To me, true beauty is rooted in respect: for nature, for craftmanship and for the spaces where my work will live.

Beauty comes with responsibility

Featured Articles

  • Dana Shell Art in the studio, article about the artist,woman touching shells

    Tomorrow Algarve

    Edition February 2024

  • Geman managazine, article about Dana

    Entdecken-Sie-Algarve

    Edition October 2024

  • English newspaper, exhibition, about Dana Shell Art

    Portugal Resident

    Edition June 9th, 2025

Exhibitions

  • Contemporary handmade shell art on exhibition, in a galerry art

    "THE JOURNEY", Solo Exhibition, Alvor, Portugal, 2022

  • Organic shell patterns, art fair, Portugal, Algarve, Blue and white aesthetics, modern designs

    ART EXPO ALGARVE, Portimao, Portugal, 2023

  • Blue and white contemporary sheashell designs, gold natural fibers, corals, sustainable art

    ART EXPO ALGARVE, Silves, Portugal, 2024

  • Lisbon art fair, unique shell art for sale, modern beach house decor, inspiration interior design,

    VISION ART FAIR, Lisbon, Portugal, 2024

  • Shell art for interior decor, one-of-a-kind designs, Sculptural shell art pieces, coastal interior

    ART EXPO ALGARVE, Portimao, Portugal, 2024

  • ocean-inspired exhibition, modern shell artwork, abstract shell art, blue and white seashells

    LIQUID VIBES, Ferragudo, Portugal, 2025

  • Geometric shell patterns for home decor

    OCEANART: SCIENCE TO ART, Sagres, Portugal, 2025

  • woman artist dressed in a black dress, with long grey hair, standing by wall exhibition, next to a large and a round shell artworks.

    OCEAN ART, Portuguese Surf Film Festival, Ericeira, Portugal, 2025

  • "TIDES" , Solo Exhibition, Ferragudo, Portugal, 2025

What My Collectors Say

  • Am attaching a couple of photos of how your art looks on our bathroom wall. We absolutely love it. Congratulations on making such attractive works of art.

    Best wishes, Sue

  • "..after the Portimao Art Fair where we purchased “Happy Summer / Verao Feliz” from you. Here is a picture of it adorning our bathroom in our house on a hill near Messines! It looks beautiful. We love it! 🐚"

    Lucille and Eric

  • Hallo Dana, my Name us Margit M and I bought this wonderful Art today. Your art are wonderful and the idea to create this is really great. As I am working also in Design, I know what it means to bring out those things and to get known. I wish you good ideas and success.

    Kind regards Margit

  • Hi Dana, I am so happy to have this seahorse. It truly was the first artwork that I saw of yours and I fell in love with it!Your art is amazing and I am so so pleased to own a piece of it.

    Rowan

  • ART 🐚🤍💜 Art is always personal, it touches you or it doesn’t, you like it or you don’t, you feel something or you feel nothing And luckily we all have different taste With this piece I instantly felt it, wether it’s flowers or butterflies, you have my attention, and when it is made of natural material coming from the ocean I also love so much, we have a soul MATCH 💜 If you look closely you can see the seashells, they are all handpicked and put together one by one into this beautiful flower circle ⚪️🟣

    Thank you so much for making this and other beautiful pieces ❤️

    Annick E.

  • “…I’ll send you a photo tomorrow when your stunningly beautiful art is on the wall in our holiday home at Praia da Falesia. A & Family”

    A & the Family

  • “Hi Dana, thanks again for letting us keep ‘Vortex’ over the weekend. We love it so much we want it to stay right where it is.”

    C & P

  • "Ola, Agora pronto, muito Lindo para me e mais uma vais muito obrigado."

    Andre

  • "I love the craftmanship, its very beatiful. And a clear reminder of the ocean"

    Zweder

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