Lígia Oliveira interdisciplinary and multiscale practice specialises in balancing human flourishing as inseparable from planetary well-being, and in how we can find meaning in this process. She provides a unique hands-on approach with tailored, systemic solutions within the overall culture, creativity, and innovation sectors with a relational, systemic, and ecological framework. Her work includes speaking, writing, art, design, urban design and consulting.

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Her interest in behavioural sciences, particularly psychology and contemplative practices, assures a collaborative, individualised service directed towards creating meaningful processes and outcomes. The interdependence we share with other species, elements, and ecosystems underscores her understanding of the role of innovation in mediating and strengthening this healthy and indispensable relationship. 

Her collaborations include with the Croatia Pavilion for the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary Academy, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and the European Commission. She had her work at the 2024 United Nations Ocean Decade Conference.

Lígia earned her Ph.D. in public space and urban regeneration from the University of Barcelona, where she was invited to join at 22 years old while attending a postgraduate degree in urban design at the Portuguese Design Centre. She previously attended the University of Antwerp and Esad Matosinhos, from where she graduated in product design. Lígia was awarded the 3rd prize in urban furniture by the Antwerp City Council and Havenhuis (co-author) and the 2nd prize in illustration by the Matosinhos City Council. She was a researcher at the University of Barcelona and a professor at the University of Porto.

Lígia’s background is on how creativity, culture, and innovation shaped metropolitan policies, economic activities, land uses, urbanism and public spaces, transforming derelict industrial areas into new, knowledge-based industrial districts. Multiple dynamics, such as private ownership and citizen-led push towards the reconsideration of old industrial buildings into heritage, played a significant role in these processes, defining new cityscapes. She moved to a small town in the south of Portugal in 2019, where her direct, daily practice within Nature informs her approach.

Lígia received funding from the Portuguese Ministry of Culture, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, and Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. These institutions, along with many other professionals, colleagues and clients, have contributed to making Lígia’s efforts possible — something she is profoundly grateful for.

Born in Porto, Lígia has studied Portuguese, English, French, Dutch, Catalan, and, briefly, Italian, but lacking time to practice currently manoeuvres reasonably well only in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. She sees languages as a way of expanding thought processes and enriching different ways of being, understanding, admiring, and respecting—the same relational approach she shares with more than humans. She grew up in awe near the tranquility and beauty of the Ria Formosa wetlands in southern Portugal, where she first experienced connection and belonging to her family, community and Nature. This same joy, awe, compassion, altruism and interconnection is what she keeps pursuing with her work. Lígia is a member of Gallery Climate Coalition, Design+Posthumanism Network and Rise Up for the Ocean.

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Learn more about Lígia's commitment to the environment, her perspective on her own practice, her opinion of how design, architecture and the arts key relational role in strengthening our relationship to Nature and her vision for the cultural, creative and innovation sectors for flourishing cities.