Madalena Ribeiro Grimaldi
@ufrj.br
School of Fine Art - Department of Techniques and Visual Representation
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
She leads the research group CRIAR – Visual Perception and Projective Representation and is a faculty member of the Graduate Program in Design (PPGD/EBA/UFRJ). Her research interests include visual perception; creative processes; intersections between art and design; visual-spatial thinking in geometry and art; and projective representation.
EDUCATION
Architect, with a Postdoctoral fellowship in Art and Philosophy at the Transtechnology Research Group, Plymouth University (United Kingdom), a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning, and a Master’s degree in Architecture. She is a Full Professor (tenure-track, full-time) in the Department of Graphic Representation Techniques at the School of Fine Arts of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (EBA/UFRJ).
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Arts and Humanities, Architecture, Education, Artificial Intelligence
FUTURE PROJECTS
From Gesture to Calculated Form: 3D Reproduction and Artificial Intelligence in Sculptural Mediation
This project investigates the aesthetic, cultural, and educational implications of the digital reproduction of sculptural works, focusing on three-dimensional digitization and reproduction as devices for cultural mediation and inclusive access. It is based on the premise that 3D reproductions expand aesthetic experience and sensory interaction in museological and educational contexts, responding to contemporary demands for preservation, accessibility, and democratization of art. The study analyzes the three-dimensional copy as a mediating interface with symbolic and perceptual value, rather than a purely technical substitute for the original. Generative Artificial Intelligence is incorporated as a secondary and controlled experimental variable, producing formal variations from digitized models to examine how changes in form, texture, and volume affect perception, meaning-making, and mediation, particularly for diverse audiences, including blind and low-vision individuals.
Applications Invited
RESEARCH OUTPUTS (PATENTS, SOFTWARE, PUBLICATIONS, PRODUCTS)
Digital 3D Study and Modeling of the Sculptures by Celita Vaccani
This research project focuses on the study, digitization, and three-dimensional reproduction of selected sculptures by Celita Vaccani (1913–2000), an artist closely associated with the academic sculptural tradition through her training with Rodolpho Bernardelli. The project examines fifteen works from the collection of the D. João VI Museum at the School of Fine Arts, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, encompassing busts, sculptures in the round, and bas-reliefs made of plaster and metal.
The works will be scanned, digitally modeled, and reproduced through 3D printing. The resulting digital models will be periodically updated with data related to structural behavior, conservation status, and environmental risks, contributing to the preservation and documentation of the sculptural heritage. The models will be made available in a virtual environment, allowing 360-degree visualization and detailed formal analysis.
In addition to documentation and dissemination, the project explores the artistic and experiential value of three-dimensional copies and investigates how users engage with 3D-printed replicas, particularly in educational and inclusive contexts, including activities designed for people with visual impairments. The results will be disseminated through academic publications and scientific events.