Our work
The work behind our hand-painted Portuguese tiles
Portuguese tile heritage is at the centre of everything we do at Gazete Azulejos.
When you buy a tile from us, you are taking home more than a decorative object. Each piece is hand-painted in our Porto atelier using traditional Portuguese tile painting techniques and inspired by historic azulejos found on Portuguese façades.
Our work brings together research, documentation, faithful hand-painted replicas, teaching and preservation, so this heritage can remain alive, visible and understood.
What makes your tile different
Our tiles are not printed reproductions.
They are painted by hand on glazed ceramic tiles and fired in a kiln. The brushstroke, the density of the pigment and the reaction of the glaze are part of the final result.
Small variations in colour, line and surface are not defects. They are the natural trace of a handmade ceramic piece.
What we do
Gazete Azulejos works between the street, the archive, the atelier and the classroom.
We research
We study historic Portuguese tiles, patterns, factories, techniques and visual references.
We document
Through Os Azulejos do Porto, we photograph and catalogue historic façade tiles in Porto.
We recreate
We hand-paint faithful replicas of traditional azulejos, keeping historic designs in use.
We teach
Our workshops share the traditional tile painting process with people who want to understand it from the inside.
We share
We use our atelier, catalogue and online platforms to make Portuguese tile heritage visible and understood.
Os Azulejos do Porto
Our work began with the tiles already living on the streets of Porto.
Since 2016, Os Azulejos do Porto has been documenting historic façade tiles through high-quality photography, cataloguing and research.
The project records patterns, colours, locations, factories and techniques, preserving information about a fragile heritage that can be altered, removed or lost.
Some of the designs painted at Gazete Azulejos are connected to tiles documented in this catalogue.
A working atelier in Porto
Gazete Azulejos is where this work becomes physical.
Here we paint tiles, fire ceramic pieces, test materials, prepare orders, study old patterns and teach traditional tile painting in small workshops.
For us, teaching is also a form of preservation. When people understand how a tile is made, they value it differently.
Why your purchase matters
Every tile you buy helps sustain a small atelier dedicated to Portuguese tile heritage.
It supports the time we spend researching, documenting, painting, teaching and keeping this knowledge visible.
Thank you for choosing a handmade piece with a history behind it.