hello, i’m lia

I’m an illustrator and animator based in Portugal.

My work moves between animation and storytelling, often leaning into the symbolic.

I’m drawn to fragile details of the mind, absurd gestures and small things that hint at something larger.

I search for ways to transform fragments of life into contemplative, playful narratives.

liasantelmogomes@gmail.com

bio

Lia Santelmo was born in 2004 in Portugal. She graduated in Multimedia from ESMAD and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Animation at Universidade Católica Portuguesa.

She began her journey in animation cinema with Machina Reverie, a study on imagination and dream. Her artistic practice explores the relationship between color, texture, and symbol as mechanisms of transformation.

Lia is currently developing Felgar, a short film inspired by the landscapes and memories of Trás-os-Montes.