Born in Goiânia, Brazil in 1962, Valéria grew up surrounded by exuberant Brazilian landscapes which inspired her from an early age. She initially studied Architecture, during which time she became greatly inspired by the works of architects Roberto Burle Marx and Oscar Niemeyer. Then graduated with a degree in 1985, cementing her interest in the fusion between urban landscapes and natural forms. After graduating, moved to Rio to pursue her Architectural career, it was here, a year later, where she was introduced to clay and became fascinated by its multiple possibilities for expression and development of ideas.

As her interest in ceramic grew, Valéria started exploring the convergence of natural forms and architectural elements as a conceptual starting point for her work. This idea has morphed into her largely installation based practice in which she conceives wall and ceiling installations of her ethereal porcelain works. She cuts and sculpts her botanically-inspired forms before they are fired to create rings, blossoms, petals, cups that emerge from the kiln as delicate forms. Her work features the repetitive, mediative, sequencing of separate elements to form a cohesive sculptural group.