When the dream drives life
Rodolfo Resende grew up surrounded by factories, workshops, moulds and conversations that went on and on while the clay took shape. Son, grandson and great-grandson of ceramics enthusiasts, he soon realised that the magic of a pot was not limited to the product itself, but encompassed all the language, symbolism, know-how and tradition it carries. During his school days, while other children looked forward to holidays, the beach and sunshine, Rodolfo was a boy who longed to return to his grandparents' factory.
"I remember looking forward to the school holidays so I could finally go help my grandparents at the factory. I loved everything, from getting my hands dirty to the people I knew. Today, I still look back on those times with great nostalgia. I owe everything I am to them, especially my grandpa."
– Rodolfo Resende, CEO
In 2006, Artevasi was born. Without excesses or shortcuts. Just hard work, vision and the desire to create something different, never forgetting 160 years of family know-how.
From the shed to the world
Artevasi's early years were shaped by resilience, adaptability, and long days. Very long days. Few square metres, little covered space, and a small team with unshakeable belief. Mário Magalhães, one of the company's longest-serving employees, with almost 18 years at the company, remembers well those early days.
“We started out in a shed with less than 60 m² of floor space. The materials were kept outside, covered with plastic sheets. Rain or shine, we had to go out and fetch them. I often left home at two in the morning to make deliveries, and when I got back, I would prepare the orders for the next day.”
– Mário Magalhães, Warehouse Manager
One-stop pot solution, made in Portugal
Artevasi started out with recycled plastic pots, a conscious choice in line with environmental concerns, which are much more topical now than they were at the time. As it grew, Artevasi evolved into what it is today: a one-stop pot solution, with its own Portuguese production, divided into three main collections: recycled plastic, handmade ceramics and traditional terracotta.
"Since Artevasi began, we have tried to be different and disruptive in the way we approach the market and the client."
- Rodolfo Resende, CEO
Handmade ceramics: history made by hand
In 2018, Artevasi strengthened its connection to Portuguese cultural heritage by beginning the production of handmade ceramics in Barcelos, a city that exudes creativity and is closely linked to the tradition of pottery.
In Mr João's workshop, each pot is unique, and each imperfection tells a story. Each piece carries the savoir-faire of master potters who mould the clay as if preserving memories. No two handmade ceramic pots are alike, and if they were, they would not be truly handmade.
Terracotta: a return to our roots
In 2021, an old dream came true: the opening of our own terracotta factory in Boialvo, in the district of Aveiro. A conscious return to our roots, where tradition and innovation go hand in hand, in a huge factory covering more than 100.000 m², unique in the world.
“Artevasi was born from plastic but this year we went back to our roots, where we rediscovered the heritage of our ancestors, which is our most valuable asset. We carry on the legacy of my grandparents while responding to the needs of today's market: the result is the Boialvo factory, the culmination of these desires.”
- Rodolfo Resende, CEO
Sustainable by nature
Sustainability has always been part of Artevasi's way of being and thinking. Not as a trend, but as a responsibility. The creation of Artesupply in 2020 made it possible to close the cycle of recycled materials, either through the transformation of production surpluses or through the acquisition of waste for transformation. At the same time, other initiatives were carried out, including the creation of an internal Sustainability Committee in 2021, the Sustainability Report and Carbon Footprint Report, social and environmental audits, and OK Recycled certification for our recycled plastic collection. Among other sustainable actions, this commitment to the planet led us to sponsor an abandoned olive grove in Abrantes last year, a project in collaboration with Apadrinha uma Oliveira.
“More than success or prosperity, it is about the legacy we want to leave on the planet.”
– Joana Oliveira, Head of Quality and Sustainability
Made by people, driven by values
Today, Artevasi has more than 200 employees. People who believe, care and build lasting relationships with customers and partners.
“I hope we never forget where we came from and what we are made of. These values must be lived every day.”
– Mário Magalhães, Warehouse Manager
Consumer Choice 2025
Last year, recognition in the Portuguese market reached new heights with the Consumer Choice Award in the decorative pots category. The event took place at Suspenso in Lisbon and marked a milestone that fills us with pride but also drives us to continue on our path with ever greater rigour, competence and boldness.
Twenty years later…
...the dream continues. Twenty years have passed since that first shed. But the essence remains: creating sustainable pots, respecting Nature, valuing heritage and believing in our work and, above all, in our people, because without them, this dream would never have been possible.
“My wish is that everyone who works at Artevasi gives their best, so that we can continue to move forward as a company”.
– José Carlos, Production Operations Manager
What was a dream yesterday is now a beautiful adventure with two decades of stories to tell. A humble shed that is now the world's leading one-stop pot solution. To think that it all started with a simple dream and an honest desire to honour the family legacy is poetic, to say the least. After all, according to the wise poet António Gedeão, ‘dreams rule life’, don't they?
Find out more about our history and our green journey
